Karen Triggiani

Getting Your Winter Garden Ready for Spring, by Karen Triggiani About the Author: Throughout her career as a medical consultant specializing in marketing for a range of health care providers, Karen Triggiani has actively pursued gardening as a hobby. A veteran of the seasons and the soil, Triggiani suggests the following means of preparation for the spring season. As winter begins to fade, soil begins to defrost, and the shoots of new plants begin to poke out of the soil, those who actively tend to their gardens will want to make sure they are ready to support a new season of growth and flourishing. Whatever you plan to grow in your garden, the first step is to take a preliminary walk through your gardening space and assess the toll that winter has taken. As you assess your garden, compile a mental list of any items you will require, including mulch, compost, and wooden structures. Remove debris and any weeds that managed to survive the winter. Once completed, check your soil for nutrients and pH level. Generally speaking, most plants grow best around a neutral pH of seven. When you are ready to begin the planting process, treat your soil with a balanced fertilizer, one with approximately equivalent levels of potassium, phosphorous, and nitrogen. As you mix your soil with fertilizer or mulch, begin planning an efficient irrigation system. Take into account, based on what you plan to grow, which hoses will work best and where you will place them. To take full advantage of the imminent growing season, you might consider a seed starting tray, in which you can germinate your seeds until you have fully prepared your garden.