Spring is so close we can smell it. Time to get in the garden and start prepping for the season (once all the snow melts, of course). Forsythia blooms, Robin sightings, and lawns turning green are signs that Spring is here.  

Spring garden prep can start as soon as the weather breaks. Here are some things you can do in your garden (and home!) this month:

Indoors:

• House Plants help keep you healthier during cold and flu season. Use air-purifying plants throughout your home to reduce airborne viruses. 
  • Snake Plant, Peace Lily, Ferns and ZZ Plants are great at cleaning the air. 
• Surrounding yourself with nature has a positive impact on your mood and overall well-being. Using green house plants and flowering plants around your home will have a positive affect on your mind and spirit. Learn more about how to Surround Yourself With Nature.
• Add fresh-cut flowers to rooms you spend a lot of time in. The scent and sight of flowers invoke an instant increase in dopamine levels in our brains, making us happier just by having them around. 
• Use specific colored flowers to regulate emotions. Using cool colors like blue, purple and green calms the mind, while bright colors like orange, red and yellow spark energy. 
• Plants and flowers can improve productivity, creativity, decrease anxiety and depression and have an overall positive impact on our lives. Plus they are beautiful to look at!

Outdoors

• Remove leaves, debris and winter mulch from garden beds so new growth can break through. 
• Cut back perennials and prune shrubs that bloom on new growth or anything that has been damaged over the winter. 
• Remove any weeds that have popped up since the fall. 
• Test your soil for pH and nutrient levels. English Gardens is offering free pH testing through April 5.  Learn more here. 
• Add soil amendments to correct pH and nutrient levels. An English Gardens expert will make recommendations based on soil test results.  
• Prepare planting beds by adding soil conditioner and compost to amend the soil. Adding organic material promotes healthy plants. 
• Add Espoma Bio-tone or Assure Plant Success to add beneficial microbes to the soil. 
• Start Spring lawn care by applying Step 1 of your 4-step lawn fertilizer program around Easter. This will help prevent crabgrass and get your lawn off to a healthy start.
• De-tatch your lawn and fill in low spots with grass seed. Start with a dry to slightly damp lawn for best results. 
• Re-edge your planting beds. This is a great way to freshen up your garden without even planting anything. 
• Top dress all beds with Spring mulch to reduce weeds, conserve moisture and give everything a fresh look 
• Apply fertilizer to trees, shrubs, and perennials. An organic slow-release formula like Espoma’s “Tone” products are great options. 
• Apply Preen to garden beds to deter weeds throughout the season. 

With these tips, you will be ready for Spring planting. Visit any English Gardens location and talk with an expert for more tips for Spring Garden prep.