“Spring is when life’s alive in everything.”
We couldn’t agree more with Christina Rossetti’s famous quote. However, it’s important to note that a beautiful spring garden takes careful planning and preparation to yield the most vibrant results. Late winter is the ideal time to begin putting these plans into motion and laying a solid foundation for your landscape. In this blog, we have outlined six essential steps for preparing your Houston garden for spring.
Spring Cleaning
The first step to preparing your garden for spring is to clear away any debris, weeds and dead plant matter. Even in Houston, Texas, where the winters tend to be mild, many garden plants are impacted by the season. Trees may lose branches and leaves, while flowers and shrubs may lose blooms and leaves. In these instances, be sure to remove any dropped branches and leaves, as well as deadhead plants with flowers that have faded, shriveled or otherwise been impacted by the cold. Clearing away this clutter allows you to more easily access the soil and begin with a tidy landscape.
Prune Trees and Shrubs
Next up, pruning your garden’s trees and shrubs. By selectively removing branches, leaves, buds and roots, this practice promotes your plant’s health. Pruning can also be used to shape your plants, as well as removing any dead, damaged or diseased plant matter. It’s important to note that while late winter is an ideal time to prune plants that bloom on new wood, such as roses and hydrangea, old-wood blooming plants should not be pruned at this time. Landscape maintenance professionals can provide guidance on the best times of year to prune each type of plant in your garden.
Tend the Soil
During the winter months, soil may become compacted and nutrient deficient. To begin loosening the soil up, you can start by tilling or turning it using a spade or designated tiller. A soil test will also provide insight into the levels of the necessary Big 3 nutrients — nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K), collectively referred to as NPK — in your soil so that you can identify the proper fertilizer. Healthy, loose and nutrient-dense soil is essential for supporting plant growth.
Install Planters and Garden Beds
Planters offer both an aesthetic and practical appeal. They are available in various materials, shapes and sizes, allowing you to customize your design. Raised garden beds are popular for use when growing fruit and vegetables in a garden to provide clear delineation between varieties.
Add a Splash of Color
Seasonal plantings bring vibrancy to your landscape. From brilliant blooms to lush greenery, there are several options when it comes to adding seasonal color. It’s important to consider the season, growing cycles, climate and soil composition when making the selection. Landscape maintenance professionals and designers can help you determine the plantings best suited to these conditions that breathe new life into your garden.
Insulate with Mulch
Mulch provides an important layer of protection for planting, insulating against both high heat and freezing temperatures. It also helps retain moisture, reduce weeds, deter pests and improve the soil quality, depending on its makeup. Mulch can be applied in late winter or spring before weeds have the chance to take hold to keep them at bay.
From landscape installation to proactive maintenance, we specialize in caring for Houston gardens at Prewett, Read & Associates. We work closely with our clients to understand their goals and design plans tailored to their needs. If you’re ready to show off your garden this spring, let’s talk about how we can help.