7 Green Spring Gardening Tips

With the start of spring, it’s not just time to clean up your house- it’s time to clean up your garden and get it ready for the season. Here are seven green spring gardening tips for you!

1. Clean up flowerbeds and borders. Cut back old growth, remove dead leaves and pull weeds. Instead of using harmful chemicals to clear your yard and garden of weeds, spend a little bit of time and get rid of unwanted plants the old fashioned way- with a little bit of elbow grease! This is also a great time to remove any unwanted visitors in the yard, like aphids and snails.

2. Prep your garden soil. Breathe some new life into your garden soil by tilling 8 to 12 inches beneath the surface and removing rocks or debris. To restore nutrients add organic matter (compost) and fertilizer (preferably organic).

3. Recycle. A number of kitchen scraps that can be used to enhance your garden. Add ground eggshells to the soil when planting veggies to prevent blossom end rot, caused by calcium deficiency. Add coffee grounds into your compost mix then add to the garden soil to boost nitrogen levels. Use clean yogurt cups, applesauce cups, or egg cartons as seedling planters.

4. Install rain barrels. While we don’t get a ton of rain in New Mexico, it’s important to gather what little we can. Install rain barrels under a gutter downspout and reap the benefits! Just be sure to only use the collected water in the garden as it’s not potable!

5. Check your irrigation system. As the weather gets warmer, it’s a good time to test your drip irrigation system. Chances are, after the colder winter weather, some of the plastic distribution heads will need replacing, and hosing may need patching or replacing as well. A broken irrigation system can lead to over-watering or not watering your garden at all!

6. Fix fences, gates and trellises. Before your garden has grown back in, take the opportunity to repair any broken fences, gates or trellises. Broken bits can be hazardous to people and pets, and fences and gates without holes are more likely to keep unwanted pests out of your garden.

7. Create a composting area or bin. There’s a lot of benefit to keeping a compost pile or bin. Food scraps and garden plant waste can be given a second chance. Composting is key to a healthy, nutrient rich garden! Visit NPR to learn how to compost at home.