I know it’s
cold outside still, but there are some tasks to complete NOW to ensure that your
next harvest is successful:
1.
Test your soil: As
you look ahead to future projects and maintenance, don’t forget to test your
soil. A soil test provides an analysis of nutrients in the soil and measures
the pH of the soil, which impacts the availability of soil nutrients. A written
report provides recommendations for the amount of fertilizer needed for a
specific crop or lawn. Follow these recommendations to create the ideal soil
for your spring garden.
2.
Start seeds now: Order
seeds now and begin collecting supplies to start seeds for your spring
vegetable garden. You can start seeds for lettuce, tomatoes, eggplants,
peppers, lima beans, cucumbers and squash inside, then plant them outside after
the chance of frost has passed. Don’t plant seeds outside until then!
3.
Plan to fight lawn weeds: Summer
lawn weeds, like crabgrass, dandelions and spurge, can be prevented by
pre-emergence herbicides. These herbicides are applied to lawns prior to the
germination of weed seeds. They control weeds during the germination process,
but do not actually prevent germination. Apply these herbicides between Feb. 15
and March 15. Pre-emergence herbicides are recommended only for turf grasses
that have been established for at least a year.
4.
Compost leaves: If
you have a lot of leaves on the ground, shred them and add them to your garden
as mulch or work them into the soil to improve the organic matter. Leaves that
have not been shredded are best added to your compost pile to provide carbon,
or “brown,” material. If they haven’t been shredded, leaves tend to form a mat
and don’t break down as quickly.
5. Inspect and repair tools: Inspect shovels, pruners and
other hand tools. Do you see rotting or cracking on handles? If handles have
started to crack or turn gray, sand them down and apply a coat of marine or
outdoor varnish to preserve the life of the handle. Is the shovel head showing
wear? Remove caked-on dirt with a wire brush and rinse and dry tools
thoroughly. Take the time now to clean, sharpen and repair your garden tools.
You will be glad you did when spring garden season arrives. Proper storage of
gardening tools will extend their life. Keep tools out of the weather and in a
shed or garage in organized spaces. This will save you a lot of frustration
when it comes time to use them and can help you maximize storage space.
There’s much
to do in the garden at this time of the year. Get started before spring
arrives.
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