Planting Prep

IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO DREAM OF SPRING GARDENING

BY MIMI GREENWOOD KNIGHT

One of my favorite things to do in winter is to make a cup of herbal tea, spread out my plant plans and catalogs, and think about the gardening I’ll do come spring. But there’s more than daydreaming to keep a gardener occupied in winter. This is a great time to collect soil samples for testing by your local ag center. The results they return will help you plan for next year’s fertilization of the lawn, vegetable garden, and flower beds. Be sure to submit separate samples for different areas of your property where soil quality can be very different.

If you like a more organic approach in your garden (I do!), spread compost, manure, sawdust, straw, and shredded leaves over your garden beds and turn them into the soil. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the difference this organic matter will make in your garden’s fertility, soil structure, and water-holding capacity come spring. If you’ve been toying with setting up a composting system, now’s a great time to get it started because of the abundance of available “brown” material (i.e., dead leaves). Plus, you’ll have plenty of time to read up on composting and set up your system. Now, let’s get those garden tools clean. Use a wire brush and apply a light coat of oil as a defense against rusting. Sharpen the edges of your hoes, spades, and pruning tools. Lightly sand tool handles and apply a coat of linseed oil. Or I like to give my hand tools a fresh coat of brightly colored paint. That makes them more visible, so I’m not forever misplacing them in the garden in spring and summer. To extend the life of your gas-powered equipment, such as weed eaters, lawnmowers, and leaf blowers, drain the fuel tanks, oil them up, and store them away.

Grandma Always Said…

Most gardeners have a time-honored metric — science-based or not — for when to plant in spring. Here are some of my favorites.

Not until the pecan tree leaves out

Wait until after Good Friday

Not until Mother’s Day

Plant potatoes in the moonlight on Good Friday

Wait until the muscadine grapevines have leaves

And my elderly neighbor likes to say, “If it thunders in February, there will be frost in April.”

Now, maybe there’s some hardscaping you’ve been wishing for, such as painting or replacing fencing, installing an irrigation system, building a retaining wall, or introducing garden features such as a birdbath, large rocks, or a fountain. Now’s your chance.

Winter is also the time to divide or move shrubs, roses, trees, evergreens, and springblooming perennials — even fall bloomers like asters — while they’re dormant. If you’ve been thinking about planting a citrus tree or two, planting between now and March will allow them to establish a hearty root system before the summer heat arrives, but cover them for any hard freezes. January will be the time to plant grapes and berries.

Rake fallen leaves into your flower and vegetable beds or arrange them around the roots of your trees and bushes but pull them back a bit from the trunk so they’re not actually touching, which can cause them to rot and mold. This lovely leaf layer will suppress weeds and conserve water come summer, then decompose and contribute (natural, non-chemical) nutrients to y our soil.

Now, hang in there. Spring gardening will be here before we know it!

For That Person Who Has Everything

Consider gifting memberships to local botanical gardens, arboretums, or nature centers. You can support a worthy organization while giving a thoughtful gift to a friend or family member.