After a long winter, your soil needs a little TLC before it's ready to plant for Spring. It's time to get down and dirty with the little plot of land called your garden!

 

A few tools you'll need before getting started:

• Trowel or small shovel
• Small garden rake
• Bucket for removal/composting of waste and debris
• Gloves, kneelers, and sun hat

Begin by a quick surface cleanup. Remove any debris from the winter, dead leaves, or waste from the previous year's planting. Any organic materials such as leaves or plant stalks can be added to your compost pile.

 

If you have annual plants existing in your space, take a moment to clean up any dead or damaged portions of the plant. (Keep in mind that with the unpredictable temperatures of Spring weather, your annuals may not have completely come back to life yet. Use caution when pruning and only remove what is clearly necessary.)

 

Next, use your trowel, shovel, and small garden rake to clear out any larger debris from under the surface of your soil. This might include things such as small rocks or gravel, broken branches, or old roots from previous seasons. Again, organic materials can be composted. This step will also serve to gently aerate your soil and provide a rich environment for new roots to establish themselves.

 

Finally, if you desire, add your fertilizer.