John Conti is a landscaper and publisher of Stellasyard.com | The Soulful Garden. Visit his web site for how to articles, advice and free design plans. Beginners are welcome.
http://stellasyard.com
Snowdrops stand guard over tiny daffodil buds. Daylight is lingering a bit longer. The snow is receding and the robins are returning. The big thaw has begun. There's no denying the signs. Spring is right around the corner.
If you're like me, you can't wait to get your hands into the soil. While you're holding out for higher temperatures, there's plenty you can do today to jumpstart the spring gardening season.
Sow Seeds Indoors
Take a trip to your local nursery or home store and buy seeds to start indoors. In March I like to start annual flowers for my pots and containers. Currently, I have Coleus, Zinnias, Impatiens, Petunias and Marigolds germinating. Follow the seed packet instructions and you'll get excellent results. Some plants will take longer than others to bloom or bear fruit, so plan accordingly. This is also a great time for starting culinary herbs and vegetables. If you're looking for something new this year, try moonflower vine or cathedral bells to climb your fence or trellis. Both can be started from seed. If you have children, get them involved. Many children have a natural affinity for gardening. It's a great quality to encourage and nurture in them.
Dust Off The Birdhouses
I put my birdhouses out in early March. Small birds like chickadees will be actively searching for appropriate homes to raise their families. Mine were up for less than 24 hours before the home tours began.
Give Your Garden Tools A Checkup
Take your pruning shears and other cutting tools to your local hardware store for cleaning, oiling and a good sharpening. On a warm day you may want to assess your lawnmower. Take it in for servicing or a tune up now-while you can. Many lawnmower repair centers are swamped shortly after the season starts. It's one tool you don't want to be without.
Get Inspired
Order your garden catalogs. Purchase your favorite garden magazines. Here in the northeast, there's nothing like winter time to remind me how valuable my summer garden space is. Create a wish list of new plants, design features and outdoor furniture. With a little planning, you won't be overwhelmed when May rolls around.
Seek Out Indoor Gardening Events
In March there are countless indoor garden, flower and landscaping expos. If you can't find anything in your local area, a day or weekend trip to a flower show might be just what you need. Look for a botanical garden or arboretum with indoor facilities. In my area we have Longwood Gardens. It has year round indoor gardens and the displays are fantastic.
Clean Out Your Beds
As soon as the snow has melted and the weather permits, you can clean out your beds. It's a good time to rake and clear your planting areas of dead branches, leaves and debris. I like to mulch as soon as possible in the spring, while there's still plenty of space between the emerging bedding plants.
Learn A Landscape Design Software Program
There are so many inexpensive landscaping software programs available today, many of them under $50.00US. During the winter months you'll have plenty of time to learn how to operate the system.
Create and sample new designs before digging. Take advantage of the overhead and 360 degree views. Many of the programs now offer a 3D walk through feature. It simulates the experience of walking through an actual garden. You can also advance the garden timeline into the future to see what it will look like when the plants and trees mature. It's a wonderful creative tool to beat the winter blues!
Call Your Landscaper Now
If you're planning to use a professional landscaper this year, make sure to schedule your work as far in advance as possible. When the ground is soft enough for digging, landscapers will be working overtime to keep up with the volume.
Book Your Garden Tours Now
Scour the internet for local and regional garden tours. Find out when tickets go on sale and plan ahead. I've often read announcement lists in the newspaper after I've already made other plans. There's nothing like visiting other people's gardens for encouragement and inspiration.
I hope these suggestions get you motivated to take action. The sooner you get started on your garden plans-the more time you'll have to enjoy the rest of the season. Happy Gardening!
© 2007 John Conti
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- Garden Design Tips for Beginners in Scottsdale, Arizona
- Garden Design Tips That Every Gardener in Phoenix, Arizona Should Know
- Gardening Guide-tips on Growing Backyard Green Beans
- Landscape Gardening - Multiple Tips On Landscape Gardening!
- Gardening: Gardening Tips to Avoid Fungus During Summer
- Gardening: Gardening Book
- Gardening: Gardening Magazine
- Gardening: Gardening Catalog




Family Traditions at Christmas Time
By: Sylvia Behnish | 18/12/2009Traditions are the glue that sticks families together. Many traditions are passed down from one generation to another but a new one can be started at any time. In our family we have many that have been passed down although they may have been altered somewhat over the years. My family, like many families, is very serious about its traditions.
Things to Prepare for When Remodeling your Kitchen or Bathroom
By: Matt Helphrey | 18/12/2009Remodeling your bathroom or kitchen can bring chaos and disorder to your household. Here are a few tips to help you prepare.
Best Miami Condos - Take Pleasure In Your Holiday
By: John Abraham | 18/12/2009Home buying is a most remarkable investment in the life span. Hire a realtor who can assist you in the course of home buying. This will make you free to take decisions on buying a desired home
Can You Check Criminal Records Online To See A Persons Past
By: James Nash | 18/12/2009Finding records doesn’t have to be troublesome and time consuming work. That’s right, you don’t need to waste your time at the local police station, not when you can access police records online.
How Can I View Birth Records At No Cost To Lookup Someones Birth Certificate
By: James Nash | 18/12/2009Finding records on the internet isn’t anything new. It has been around for years but it hasn’t been available to the public. Recently all the records have been made available to the public and now you can find almost any birth certificate on the internet.
Know What's Involved In Buying A Home
By: Eva Judge | 18/12/2009Purchasing a new home is a very exciting - and very stressful - time. As complex and complicated as the whole process can be, it helps a lot to have a firm grasp on what to expect. Having a basic idea about the steps that are involved in buying a home can demystify much of the process and make it easier to manage in general.
Where Can You Retrieve Divorce Records For Free Online To See Someones History
By: James Nash | 18/12/2009If you want to find someone’s divorce record or just check a person’s history you don’t have to deal with regulations and paperwork anymore. You can just find all the records that you need online.
How to Fix Smelly Carpet
By: Mark Decherd | 18/12/2009Steps for fixing a smelly carpet range from home remedies such as sprinkling baking soda on the carpet to professional treatments. How you approach the job depends on the extent of the odor as well as its cause.
Jumpstart The Spring Garden - Gardening Tips For March
By: John Conti | 19/03/2007 | GardeningSnowdrops stand guard over tiny daffodil buds. Daylight is lingering a bit longer. The snow is receding and the robins are returning. The big thaw has begun. There's no denying the signs. Spring is right around the corner. If you're like me, you can't wait to get your hands into the...
Garden Design by the Senses
By: John Conti | 06/02/2007 | GardeningHow to create a beautiful and meaningful garden using the five senses as your guide.