May is here! Bringing with it the sounds of birds chirping, frogs croaking and the sweet smell of spring blossoms. This means it’s time to put on garden gloves, clean up the dormant planting beds, and prepare our soil for a new year of growth.
Here are ways to jump-start your spring gardens to ensure an abundant and healthy production of flowers and vegetables this summer.
Clean Up: Remove any remaining debris from winter including dead plants, leaves, and twigs. You can either compost these materials or use them as mulch.
Soil Testing and amendment: If you haven’t already, it’s a good time to test your soil to determine its pH and nutrient levels. Based on the results, add necessary amendments like compost, well-rotted manure or other organic matter to improve soil structure and fertility.
Loosening the Soil: Gently till or fork the soil, ensuring it’s moist but not soggy. Be careful not to disturb any established bulbs or emerging plants.
Mulching: Apply a layer of mulch (e.g., wood chips, straw, shredded leaves) to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.
Planting: In West Granby, May is a good time to plant heat-loving crops like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash and melons. Be sure to plant after a threat of frost.
Fertilizing: If needed, apply a balanced fertilizer according to your soil test results.
Watering: Ensure your newly planted areas are well-watered, especially in dry conditions. Keep an eye on the weather forecast.
Weed Control: Regularly weed your garden beds to prevent them from competing with your plants.
Ongoing Maintenance: Continue to monitor your plants, provide support as needed and address any pests or diseases that may arise.
By following these steps, you can create a healthy and productive garden bed and be ready for the summer growing season. Next month, my column will be about compatible vegetable plants in the garden and certain plants that thrive in each other’s company. We will also address diseases and pests.
Happy planting from our garden to yours!