Planning for Spring

It’s not spring yet. We have just about a month’s waiting time before it arrives. But the last day of meteorological winter falls at the very end of February, either on the 28^thor 29^th, depending on the year. So, that says something to us, right? It indicates that perhaps we have arrived at the time when we ought to start formulating our Spring To-Do lists.

The meteorological seasons divide the year into fourths, three months per season. Meteorological spring begins on March 1, whereas astronomical spring, coming later in the month (March 20, 2025), is when most gardeners living in four-season climates start “thinking spring” and beginning their gardening activities in earnest. (Even March 20 is early: It depends on the year and the weather, of course. Some years, the end of March can remain quite wintry.) But garden dreaming and planning really cannot wait. Having a good game plan for Spring To-Do activities makes sense.

So, first off, for formulating a good plan—an endeavor that is very appropriate during these days in which many of us still have plenty of snow- and ice-cover and expect to get more, but days when we can also take the time to sit down, research, and plan—here are some suggestions:

• Check out trusted gardening sites for published Spring To-Do lists. Gather a few so that you can compare them.
• Looking at the Spring To-Do guidance, determine the steps that are most important for your particular garden, based on your zone and plantings.
• Determine the Spring To-Do steps that absolutely must come first.
• Determine if those early steps will require materials such as bagged soils, prepared mulches, or fertilizers; the cleaning of tools; or the commitment to save certain materials (say, for example, a commitment to saving logs, fallen branches, and other wood scraps if you want to try Hügelkultur). You will surely need materials for later-season work, but by that time, you will likely have a stocked shed and be ready, just naturally. The first steps for the season are the ones that tend to catch us off-guard.

With these points covered, edit the most comprehensive or most informative Spring To-Do list you have come across. Cross out sections that do not apply to the particular plants you have. Hold true to what you find important: for example, avoiding chemicals (crossing them off your list) and opting for organic garden treatments, instead. Place asterisks, highlights, or exclamations near the most important parts of the list. And number your steps, as some should be done sequentially. Link your steps to the materials you will need—anything that requires a trip to the shed or a trip to a shop. And get ready.

As we emerge from winter hibernation if we live in colder regions, spring means energy to us gardeners. Although we might picture ourselves sitting back to enjoy the first warm breezes that follow its arrival, spring usually has its own plan for us—a plan that makes use of our newfound energy. Truth being told, there is a lot to be done in spring. A gardener might do a half-way job with one year’s fall clean-up, and nature will take care of itself… but engaging in Spring To-Do tasks can mean the difference between an okay garden and a bloomin’ perfect garden come summer.

For friends who live in year-round warmth, spring likely brings similar clean-up needs, freshening up soil, doing some fertilizing…. The tasks to be done in a balmy location probably align fairly well with the tasks that the northern gardener must undertake. We all have Spring To-Do obligations if we desire to make the most of the plots of land we call our own. And that, indeed, is what gardeners desire.

Like many main events, summer is glorious. But sometimes, preparing for an event is a large part of the fun, part of the experience. Planning and undertaking Spring To-Do work makes summer all the more beautiful, not just due to the quality of the garden that will result but because anticipation, planning, and some amount of toil make the end-results that much sweeter. Let’s get ready!