Preparing Your Garden for Spring in Michigan

We’re starting to see some warmer, sunnier days in Michigan and the Modern team can’t help but have spring on our minds. We recommend grabbing a pair of gardening gloves, trowel, kneeler pad for comfort, and cranking up your tunes to get to work on preparing your garden for spring with these tips:

1. Clean Up Your Garden

Remove any fallen leaves, sticks, and debris from your garden beds. Rake the soil to loosen it up and remove any weeds that may have started to grow. In areas prone to flooding, or in marshy yards, you may also want to consider a raised garden bed in order to have a full growing season.

2. Test and Amend the Soil

Conduct a soil test to determine the pH and nutrient levels of your soil. Michigan’s soil tends to be acidic, so adding lime can help balance the pH levels. Consider adding organic matter such as compost, manure or peat moss to help improve the soil quality.

3. Start Seeds Indoors

Starting seeds indoors with seed starting mix or a self-watering greenhouse kit, can give you a head start on the growing season. In Michigan, the last frost date can occur as late May, so make sure to plan accordingly. Some popular seeds to start indoors include tomatoes, peppers, and herbs.

4. Prune Trees and Shrubs

Late winter is an ideal time to prune any dead or damaged branches from your trees and shrubs. This will help promote healthy growth in the spring.

5. Mulch Your Garden Beds

Adding a layer of mulch to your garden beds can help retain moisture and suppress weed growth. Consider using wood chips, straw or leaves for a natural look.

6. Plant Cool-Season Crops

In Michigan, you can start planting cool-season crops such as lettuce, spinach, and peas as early as mid-March. These crops can tolerate cooler temperatures and can be harvested before the summer heat arrives.

7. Protect Your Plants

If frost is in the forecast, cover your more fragile plants with blankets or sheets to protect them from the cold.

 

Don’t have space for a full garden? Try out our self-pollinating patio berry plants or use plant baskets! We have plant solutions for all spaces – indoor and outdoor. Stop in the store anytime. Our team would love to help!

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