Don’t Panic, It’s Only April

Dolly Parton once said, "the way I see it, is if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain". Dolly was probably alluding to a larger social experience, but the analogy rings true when considering the highs and lows of gardening. For the average home gardener the beginning of the season can be overwhelming. As you walk your beds inspecting the soil, cursing the weeds, doing a head count on your perennials and sending prayers to the weather Goddess, the task list and worries can quickly grow.

Now, speaking of the weather Goddess, while this past week's blast of heat has likely vaccinated your S.A.D. symptoms, it may have triggered your worries about already being behind on garden prep! Rest assured, you're good. In the GTA as of April 15 we're still around 4 weeks away from the projected last frost date, so even if truck loads of tender annuals had already started arriving at your local garden centre (they haven't, I checked lol) it wouldn't be safe to plant them.

Now if you're like me and you can't wait to get your mind, body and soul into garden-mode, but want to avoid burnout, keep reading my recommendations for THREE ways to staying organized and inspired this month.

April is for Prep, not Planting

Step 1: Tidy up

Yay... garden clean up it so much fun *groans* -- NOT! But it's necessary. To keep yourself organized and motivated keep these thoughts in mind:

1) Timing -- Over the winter, many beneficial pollinators hibernate below the leaves and debris and are slow to wake up. You don't want to prematurely scoop them up and compost them, so wait until your region experiences upwards of 10°C weather, 10 days in a row.

Additionally, be kind to yourself; plan to start your outdoor work in the morning when temperatures and sun exposure are less intense.

2) Tools -- Before you begin, take an inventory of your gardening tools and ask yourself:

Do I have what I need?
Are they sharp/clean and in proper working order?
Do I require a more ergonomic version of this tool?

It seems no matter how you store them in the fall, tools always seem to age poorly from season to season. It's critical to have the right tools, not only for the health of your plants, but for your physical well-being too. Using dirty, dull or poorly sized tools for the task can put you at risk, or at very least, make the task much less enjoyable.

3) Tasks -- If you have a large property the thought of tackling the clean-up in one day can seem overwhelming and demotivating. To stay positive and productive it's best to break it up into the following stages:

Day 1: Rake - Starting on one side of the property and making your way around/across, make a preliminary pass at raking and bagging the leaves and twigs in some or all of your beds/lawns. Keep it superficial - don't fall into the trap of pruning as you go, just get an initial sweep done and keep a mental note of spots that will need further attention later.

Day 2: Prune - Armed with your freshly cleaned and sharpened pruners, return to those perennials that were in need of a haircut. Strap on your knee pads, hit play on a new podcast episode (the Dateline podcast has some great new episodes posted by the way) and take a bucket with you to collect the trimmings as you go. This will make clean up quick, painless and efficient!

Day 3: Pull - My favourite! Time to take your frustration out on those weeds with your Hori Hori knife and bust out the shovel when they're really stubborn. Trail a wheel barrow or bucket around the yard with you so you can pop those stragglers in the bin as you go.

Step 2: Feed

Now that you're done the physical labour of spring garden bed prep, we have one more quick job: fertilize those perennials!

To keep things simple, a slow-release granular fertilizer is best at this time of the season. They will release a small, steady amount of nutrients over a period of time that will ensure a kind wake up to your plant.

There will be plenty of time in the season to jack up the rest of the beds' soil with manure, compost tea and fish fertilizer, but 1 week before your last projected frost sprinkle this around the base of your perennials... and wear your gloves!!!

Step 3: Plot

Before you head to the garden centres to stock up on tender annuals in May you will do well to establish a plan in advance. Not unlike going to the grocery store on an empty stomach, heading to the nursery with no idea of your needs or a grasp on your vacant planting space can be an expensive mistake.

Use this period of time before the frost threat passes to visualize a plan. You can use a formal digital garden planning tool, or simply just draw it out on paper. Note where your current perennials and hardscapes live and create a nursery list with varieties or categories of plants (perennials, annuals, herbs, vines, shrubs) to fill the desired spaces.

OH! If you wanted to save a couple bucks avoiding mature plant prices you can do some direct seed sowing! Larkspur and Bells of Ireland love a good late-spring cold snap... brrrr!

HOT TIP: Don't forget: April is for PREP, not planting --- not even transplanting! Take your time exploring your gardens, cleaning winter debris at your own pace and dreaming up new designs and colour palettes. See you next month with more early-season garden advice!