Preparing Your Garden for Spring

Along the Front Range, the battle between winter and spring continues. We are eager for the warm days and the outdoor home lifestyle that makes Colorado so special. But you can get into spring mode now by preparing (or creating) your outdoor garden on a sunny day. Take advantage of this time to envision, research, and prepare (rather than rush once the growing season is here).

PERENNIAL/ANNUAL FLOWER BEDS 

Pre-spring Check: Your early-blooming bulbs and tubers should be popping up, even surrounded by snow (such as tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, Crocus, snow iris, and snowdrops). Tidy up around them to let the sun in. The beds facing west or south will bloom first.

Fun Fact: Bees love collecting pollen from Croci. 

Nurture Beds: Be sure not to “strip” the soil of decay. Crumbling leaves will enrich the soil. Chop last year’s stems into smaller pieces and compost. They’ll make great nutrition for the coming months. 

Hard Structures:  Repair, replace, and refresh any wood or metal structures in your gardens. Or start to build new additions.

Plot, plot, plot: Start researching and planning your spring planting so you can enjoy summer and fall blooms. There’s a plethora of garden design apps online.

VEGETABLE GARDEN

Spring Harvest: Start planting cold-tolerant veggies! Asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, chives, carrots, kale, spinach, and many other varieties will sprout as temperatures warm. 

Inventory and Order: Your seeds, planting supplies, and of course, start plotting. 

Start Sprouting: Your greenery can start indoors! Start sprouting seeds for late spring planting or purchase baby plants, so they’re ready in May.

TREES AND SHRUBS

Skip Pruning: As roses, spring shrubs, and trees start to grow/bloom, it’s best to leave them alone. Don’t cut the growth or flowers until after they’ve finished their cycle (late summer/fall). 

Time To Water: While it’s been a wetter winter, we’re still in a semi-arid climate. Give your trees and shrubs the occasional drink. 

Prune Away: Summer-blooming shrubs and dormant/shade trees should get a touch-up. However, refrain if you have spirea, lilac, and forsythia as they bloom on last year’s sprouts. 

Source: 9news.com, slowfooddenver.org, Denver Gardeners CSU