Late Winter Garden To-Do's
Prepare and Improve Garden Beds
(DO THIS IF NOTHING ELSE!)
Task 1: Weed and add both compost and mulch to existing beds. This will vastly reduce spring weeds, and improve water retention and improve soil health. Remove weeds with your hands, a trowel or a hoe. Be sure to get the root out as well as possible. This time of year you can just leave the weeds on the surface of the soil, and cover them with a thick layer (about 2") of mulch, or fertimulch (a mix of compost and shredded mulch). Leaving them in place to decompose will add biomass to your soil and improving soil nutrition and soil texture. Avoid this practice with plants that have gone to seed (typically in in the fall), diseased plants, and with really pervasive weeds.
A note on mulch: Dirt Exchange and Burien Bark in Seattle, and American Plant in DC sell mulch by the yard, available for pickup or delivery. Share an order with a neighbor to split the delivery cost, have a fun communal project, and reduce plastic. If you're buying bagged mulch, purchase shredded mulch that is undyed. Avoid cedar chips or large bark chips, which will take too long to break down to add any benefit to soil.
To create new garden beds, use the sheet mulch technique! A very easy, practical and by far better approach to create a new bed than clearing sod.
Building healthy soil through mulching, composting, and planting diverse crops is key for not only healthy plant growth, but for our global goals of capturing carbon, reducing water use, and preventing erosion.
Start Planning for Planting
If you are interested in adding to your garden, now is the time to
reach out for design assistance. Planting will begin in earnest in early April, so if you are interested in purchasing plants for delivery, let me know by mid-March for best availability!
Prune Fruit Trees and Shrubs
Now is the time to prune! Prune summer-flowering shrubs and spent blooms that you let overwinter. By removing dead or diseased wood and shaping your plant, you will improve air circulation, control the plant size and look, and allow for plant energy to go toward new growth. Be mindful of weather conditions and avoid pruning during freezing spells. NOTE: Azalea, camellia, rhododendron, lilac, fig trees and some other plants set bud just after the last bloom/fruit fades. For these plants, prune after they bloom/fruit this coming year. If you're new to pruning, be sure to do an online search on your specific plants for guidance. Keep notes in a garden calendar on the process and the timing to help out your future self.
Trees are taller and trickier than shrubs. If you're untrained in tree maintenance, reach out to me or
Plant Amnesty for classes and high quality arborist recommendations.
Start Indoor Seeds
Early February is a great time to start seeds indoors for plants that need a longer growing season, such as tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. Starting seeds indoors helps give them a head start before they are transplanted outdoors in late spring.
Clean and Maintain Tools
With the gardening season just around the corner, it’s a good time to clean and maintain your tools. Sharpen hoes, pruners, and shears, and oil wooden handles to prevent them from drying out.
