With the onset of spring approaching, it’s the perfect time to take care of your garden. To help you maintain your green spaces, we have gathered the 7 key steps for the maintenance of your garden. Follow these tips and tricks to get a welcoming and green outdoor space from this season onwards.
Step 1: Clean and Clear the Land
To start maintaining your garden in early March, it is essential to clean and clear your land of dead leaves, broken or unwanted branches. Also remove the weeds in the flower beds and around the plants to prevent their spread.
Bulky swing or garden equipment
Do not forget to check and tidy up items such as swings or garden furniture that have deteriorated with the bad weather during the winter. This will facilitate the soil work and allow a better organization of your green space.
Step 2: Improve the quality and structure of the soil
A well-structured and fertile soil is crucial for the proper development of growth and the health of your plants. To achieve this:
- Check the soil pH using a measurement kit to correct if necessary, for example with lime or sulfur amendments.
- Add compost and organic fertilizers to improve the quality and fertility of the soil. You can also use manure or green residues as mulch around the plants.
- Work your soil deeply to aerate the compacted parts during winter and facilitate the penetration of essential nutrients to the roots of plants.
Step 3: Protect your plants against diseases and pests
In a garden, it is not uncommon for certain species to be affected by parasites or diseases at the start of the spring. So, make sure you :
- Inspect the branches, leaves, and fruits thoroughly to detect any possible parasitic attacks or infections.
- Prune regularly the affected plants to prevent the spread of diseases to other surrounding vegetation.
- Apply, if necessary, a biological preventive treatment.
- Use eco-friendly pest traps, such as sticky strips, pheromone traps, nematodes, etc., to protect your crops without using pesticides harmful to the environment and health.
Step 4: Plan the planting of your seedlings
In early March, a multitude of vegetables, shrubs, flowers and aromatic plants are ready to be sown. In order to guarantee a good result:
- Inform yourself about the specific needs of water, sun, space for each variety before selecting the species that will grow best in your garden.
- Choose seeds or seedlings certified without chemical treatments to promote a healthy and environmentally friendly culture.
- Follow the planting instructions on the seed packets meticulously to ensure their optimal chances of germination and growth.
The vegetable garden and above-ground crops
If you wish to grow fruits and vegetables in your garden, consider preparing a garden plan suited to your area, exposure, or even in above-ground mode (raised bed, planter) from the beginning of March. You can then plant, among other things, tomatoes, strawberries, salads, zucchini, basil, etc., following good plant associations and crop rotation techniques to maximize your yields.
Step 5: Regularly Maintain the Lawn
For your lawn to stay green and dense throughout the year, it is essential to have regular maintenance starting from spring:
- Aerate your lawn by lightly scarifying the surface to remove the moss and dead grass accumulated during the winter.
- Perform a first seasonal mowing, taking care not to cut too short in order to preserve its vigorous growth.
- Treat the bare areas and re-seed if necessary.
- Consider installing an automatic watering system or a rainwater collector to simplify its irrigation.
Step 6: Prune your trees, shrubs and hedges
In early March, it’s the right time to prune your fruit trees, flowering shrubs and decorative hedges. Pruning will balance their shape, promote their branching and optimize their fruiting:
- Maintain a guiding line in the design of your garden by framing the green spaces with geometric or sculptural shapes.
- Use suitable tools, maintained and sharpened, to make clean cuts that will facilitate the healing of plants.
- Do not hesitate to research specific pruning techniques for different species (espalier trees, climbing roses, perennials).
Step 7: Mulch and protect your plantings
Finally, to sustain your garden maintenance efforts in early March and encourage the growth of your plants, consider :
- Mulch (covering the ground with an organic mix) the areas around flower beds, shrubs, and young plants to maintain soil moisture, limit weeds, and reduce watering needs.
- Install seasonal protections, such as winter veils or mulch, on plants sensitive to cold and spring weather conditions.
- Regularly check for the possible presence of rodents that can cause significant damage in a garden.
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By following these 7 key steps for your garden maintenance starting in early March, you will be able to appreciate the beauty and diversity of a healthy and harmonious outdoor space throughout the entire growing season.