When to start prepping your garden for spring

Spring prep doesn't start when the weather turns — by then you're already behind. The gardens that come back strongest are the ones where the groundwork was laid weeks earlier, while everything still looks dormant.

Start with the soil, not the plants

Before anything goes in the ground, your soil needs attention. Late winter is the right window to test pH, work in compost, and clear out anything that rotted over from last season. Skipping this step is the most common reason spring planting underperforms.

• Test soil pH before adding any fertilizer

• Work in compost while the ground is still workable

• Clear out dead plant matter left from fall

• Check drainage in low spots before heavy spring rain arrives

Prune while things are still bare

Most deciduous shrubs and trees are easiest to prune before new growth starts. You can see the full structure of the plant without leaves in the way, which makes it much harder to over-cut by accident.

• Remove dead or damaged branches first

• Shape lightly — spring growth will fill in fast

• Avoid pruning spring-flowering shrubs until after they bloom

• Sanitize tools between plants to avoid spreading disease

Check your irrigation before you need it

Sprinkler heads and drip lines often shift or clog over winter. Testing the system in early spring means you catch problems before your plants are relying on it in the middle of a dry stretch.

• Run each zone and check for uneven coverage

• Look for cracked or clogged heads

• Adjust timers for lengthening daylight hours

• Repair leaks before soil dries out and hides them

Plan before you plant

It's tempting to buy whatever looks good at the nursery once spring hits, but the strongest gardens are planned a few weeks ahead — mapped out by sun exposure, mature size, and bloom timing, not just what's in stock that weekend.

• Note which beds get full sun vs. partial shade

• Leave room for mature plant size, not just how it looks in the pot

• Stagger bloom times so something is always flowering

• Order or reserve plants early if you have a specific variety in mind

Getting this timing right is less about doing more work, and more about doing the right work before the season gets busy. A little prep now saves a lot of catching up later.