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Another planting season is almost here! One of the best parts of homeownership is being able to care for your property and utilize your yard space how you’d like. Adding a garden is also one of the top projects that can increase your home value.
Properly preparing your garden for spring and summer is crucial for ensuring a healthy and thriving garden throughout the growing season.
Homefinity is here to provide essential garden preparation tips to prevent pests and diseases, encourage healthy plant growth, and increase overall yield.
Let’s start with our top seven tips to make your garden the best it can be and help you make a home that you’re proud of.
Tip 1: Clean your tools
Your garden tools have likely been sitting unused in a shed or garage all winter, so it’s important to give them a good spring cleaning before using them.
Start by wiping down any dirt or debris from the blades and handles with a damp cloth. Then, sharpen the blades of your pruning shears and loppers, as this will make it easier to make clean cuts to your plants. Finally, consider applying a light coat of oil to the metal parts of your tools to prevent rust from forming.
Related reading: Our Top 8 Best Spring Cleaning Tips
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Weeds and pests can wreak havoc on your garden, so it’s important to tackle them early in the season.
Start by pulling up any visible weeds by hand or using a weeding tool. If you have a large area to cover, consider using a hoe or cultivator to remove weeds more quickly. To deal with pests, consider using natural remedies such as insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Related reading: Indoor Gardening: Grow Your Own Food Year-Round
Tip 3: Tidy up your flower beds and borders
Before planting, it’s important to clean up your garden to remove any dead plant material, fallen leaves, and debris from the previous growing season.
Cut back any old growth from perennials or shrubs to encourage new growth. Clear out any weeds or unwanted plants from your garden bed to prevent them from competing with your desired plants for nutrients and water. This will also help reduce the risk of pests and diseases.
Tip 4: Test Your Soil
Testing your soil is important to determine its pH level, nutrient content, and overall health. A soil test will assess your soil’s fundamental texture—sand, silt, or clay—and identify its pH level, which measures how acidic it is.
Magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium supply levels will be calculated and suggestions will be offered for increasing each nutrient to the proper levels for the best plant growth.
Related reading: Steps to Ensure Your Home is Ready for the Rain.
Tip 5: Get some mulch
The mulching season typically lasts from mid to late spring. Spreading large amounts of organic material over your soil’s surface will protect it from weeds, enhance moisture retention, stop soil erosion, and act as insulation.
Choose the type, whether organic or inorganic, the quantity, the storage location, etc. If you don’t already have a pile or source of mulch on hand, you can choose from grass clippings, straw, hay, chopped leaves, or wood chips for your garden.
Related reading: Tips and Ideas for the Landscape of Your New Home.
Tip 6: Plan Your Garden Layout
Consider the amount of sunlight your garden receives throughout the day and choose plants that thrive in those conditions. Some plants require full sun, while others prefer partial or full shade.
Plants that require full sun include:
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Watermelons
- Sunflowers
Plants that require partial or full shade include:
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
Choose plants that are compatible with each other and with the soil and climate in your area. Group plants together with similar watering and nutrient requirements to make maintenance easier.
Good companion plants include:
- Tomatoes and marigolds
- Beans and corn
- Carrots and leeks
- Potatoes and beans
Tip 8: Plant your garden according to seed or plant instructions
Follow the planting instructions carefully to ensure your plants are properly spaced and planted at the correct depth. Water and fertilize your plants properly according to their requirements to help them thrive. Use organic fertilizers or compost to provide nutrients to your plants without synthetic chemicals.
Tip 7: Protect Your Garden
Prevent pests and diseases by practicing adequate garden hygiene. Remove diseased plants, clean up fallen debris, and rotate crops to reduce soil-borne diseases.
Keep an eye out for signs of pests and take action immediately to prevent infestations from getting out of hand. Use natural remedies to control pests and diseases when possible. Install physical barriers such as fencing or row covers to protect your plants from creatures such as rabbits, birds, or deer.
Homefinity can help you get the garden—and home—of your dreams
Ready to put these tips into action and create your dream garden this spring and summer? Don’t let finances hold you back.
Homefinity offers cashout refinancing and mortgage options to help you make your garden dreams a reality. If you have questions about financing your home renovation project or beginning your homeownership journey, contact Homefinity. We’ll help you get the home you love with a loan you can afford.
