Spring Cleaning- In the Garden!

Yeah! Sixty degree days are forecast for the week here in Michigan, and I am soooo ready for garden clean-up! Of course, what you need to do now depends how much effort you put in during the fall season. (For me, I try to do a lot of tidying in the fall, so spring is a welcome, not so overwhelming state in the garden.)

My early spring clean-up task include:

1. Cutting back grasses, and a few plants that had been left for winter interest
2. Cleaning-up mulched leaves from around plants
3. Minor weeding
4. Overall- take a look and see what needs to be cut back or pruned
   
   Then in a April, as things begin to come-up a bit more I assess:

• Per plants,what I need to replace, divide or add
• Work-up the soil around plants
• Major weeding and applying Preen in mid-late April
• Figuring out how much mulch needs to be refreshed

I don't know about you, but without a plan in hand, my biggest obstacle when heading out to the garden, is distraction. I get to looking at whats coming up, or find myself dreaming about what I could add this year- or Oh, maybe adding another space here or there. Yikes... I really need to stay focused!

A clean spring garden
makes for easy upkeep
once summer arrives!

That is where I find working in some kind of order makes the task more manageable. It also keeps me focused on what I need to accomplish next. First I start working on one bed at time. Kind of like house cleaning, I don't leave the room I'm working on til I'm done. Then I move on to the next one. I apply this thought in the garden too. Working on garden area at a time.

Of course, there are some jobs I like to do all at once. Like applying Preen, a weed preventive. This product is a wonderful tool, cutting weeds down by at least 80% in my book. The catch, you have to de-weed the area first, then sprinkle Preen to the soil and rake in. Also remember, it has to be applied every three months. I like to apply it in mid-to late April, then in July, if needed. Note, area stores tend to run specials on Preen early in the season, so keep your eyes open. For already mulched areas, you can apply Preen too, just rake it into the existing mulch. Remember, you need to know if you want to plant seeds somewhere before applying Preen to a bed. Since it keeps weed seeds from germinating, this means flower seeds will not germinate either!

Another overall task, adding mulch. With a variety of mulch types available, it's good to keep an eye out for sales in the spring on your favorite. For cypress lovers, Home Depot usually runs a good, by the bag, sale early in April. Otherwise, bulk is usually cheaper if you have the means to haul it. Figuring out how much you will need is always a guess, but this website has a great little tool. Just grab the measurements of the areas you need to mulch and enter the in.

What's your favorite spring clean up tip? Happy Spring Cleaning- In the Garden!

Just a reminder, On the Right Path is now taking appointments for spring garden clean-up.
Areas covered, Saginaw, Thomas, Tittabawasee, Richland Townships and some areas of South East Midland County. Send me an email, with name and phone number and I'll get back to you soon to set up a time. Thanks!