What to start with when working in the garden after winter?

05.03.2024

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What to start with when working in the garden after winter?

Your dream of a house with a garden has finally come true! The apartment is furnished, the first winter and holidays in the new home are behind you, and now you're starting to think about how to prepare the garden for the upcoming spring. Read our article with valuable tips that will make your task much easier.

Firstly - cleaning up and preparing the soil

After the snow has melted, it's time to tidy up.
Gather all the garbage, leaves, and sticks, and contemplate a garden plan.
Determine where the outdoor furniture and grill will be placed, and consider where you'd like to plant flowers.
If you dream of a small vegetable garden, choose a suitable spot, perhaps at the edge or in a corner but with good sunlight.

The soil where you'll be planting flowers and vegetables requires special preparation.
Use a hoe or cultivator to loosen it to a depth of about 15-20 cm.
This will improve air and water penetration with nutrients, making it easier for plants to grow.
Remove grass and weeds, leaving clean soil ready for fertilization.

In the case of heavier clay soil, consider cultivating in containers or specialized raised vegetable beds.
You'll have the opportunity to fill them with loose, permeable soil, ideal for crops like cucumbers, tomatoes, or potatoes.
Simultaneously, the confined space will prevent some vegetables, such as beans or cucumbers, from excessive spreading.

An additional advantage of this solution is the visual aspect; containers can serve as decoration, adding more order to the garden.

If you're a fan of peppers or tomatoes, think about investing in a small, backyard greenhouse.
These plants thrive much better under cover.

Secondly - planning

Low-maintenance and perfect for beginners are herbs, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, carrots, radishes, dill, parsley, lettuce, onions, and garlic.
If you plan to grow cucumbers, plant dill nearby to enhance their flavor and act as a deterrent to aphids and spider mites.
Similarly, tomatoes benefit from growing alongside basil; they will grow faster and have a better, more intense flavor.

Vegetables from the nightshade family (e.g., tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, eggplant) should be planted at a distance from each other, as they are susceptible to the same diseases and can cross-infect each other.
Garlic negatively affects the growth of many vegetables, such as beans, tomatoes, lettuce, or carrots.
However, it works well when planted next to strawberries or roses, as it deters pests like aphids, fleas, or powdery mildew.

Marigolds are among the most popular ornamental plants in the garden for good reason.
Their seeds release substances that deter pests harmful to vegetables, such as nematodes.

In the vicinity of the vegetable garden, consider planting nasturtiums, which are resistant to aphids and can help protect vegetable.
Both marigolds and nasturtiums are undemanding regarding soil and care.
They thrive in full sunlight but also tolerate partial shade.
Observing them and only removing withered flowers will encourage more frequent blooming.

Other ornamental plants that are relatively easy to cultivate include daisies, petunias, geraniums, lantanas, and scarlet roses.

Do you already have the garden raked, soil prepared and aerated for flowers and vegetables, and a planned garden layout?
It's time to purchase seedlings and seeds.
Many vegetables grown in our climate prefer cooler temperatures (e.g., radishes, lettuce, garlic, cabbage, cauliflower, parsley), so March and April are the appropriate months for sowing them.