We all know that there is a specific kind of magic that happens when spring finally arrives. The world stretches awake, the soil softens, and suddenly every neighbor with a porch pot becomes a garden philosopher. But here’s the secret the seasoned growers know: your April garden dreams actually start now, while fall and winter…
spring
Why Pruning Too Early Can Kill Your Shrubs Before Spring
The promise of spring can make even the most casual gardener feel like an enthusiastic nature-sculptor, pruning shears in hand and visions of lush blooms dancing in their mind. But enthusiasm has a flip side, and one of the biggest gardening mistakes happens before spring ever arrives: pruning too early. It feels productive, satisfying, and…
9 Crops That Overwinter for a Spring Harvest
If you’ve ever looked at your garden in late fall and thought, “Well… guess we’ll try again next year,” then brace yourself—because winter gardening is about to become your new superpower. While most people pack up their tools and wait for warm weather to return, savvy gardeners know that winter can actually prepare plants for…
Why Ornamental Grasses Should Stay Standing Until Spring
There’s a good chance you’ve looked out at your garden in late fall and thought, “Should I cut those grasses down before the snow hits?” It’s a tempting thought—after all, the tidy gardener in all of us loves a clean slate before winter. But hold that thought and put the shears down! Ornamental grasses aren’t…
Why Organizing Your Shed Now Makes Spring Gardening Easier
It’s a perfect spring morning. The sun is warm but gentle, the birds are practically auditioning for a Disney movie, and you’re ready to plant, prune, and pot your way into garden glory. You swing open the shed door, eager to grab your tools—and instantly regret everything. Shovels are tangled in hoses, half-empty seed packets…
How Cover Crops Boost Spring Yields
So, it’s the first warm day of spring, the snow has melted, and the scent of fresh earth fills the air. Farmers are gearing up, tractors are roaring to life, and hopes are high for a productive season. But here’s the kicker—some of the best spring yields actually start months earlier, before winter even hits….
10 Garden Tasks That Prevent Spring Weeds
Spring is supposed to be about blooms, sunshine, and fresh starts—not a battlefield of weeds determined to turn your garden into a jungle. But every gardener knows the truth: those sneaky green invaders don’t take a vacation. They lie in wait all winter, ready to burst forth the second you relax. The good news? You…
Why Leaf Mold Becomes “Black Gold” by Spring
There’s something almost magical about watching fall’s golden carpet of leaves transform into rich, dark, earthy compost by spring. What was once crunchy clutter underfoot suddenly becomes a gardener’s secret weapon—something pros affectionately call “black gold.” It doesn’t sparkle or shine, but in the world of soil health, it’s pure treasure. Leaf mold is nature’s…
Why Fall Pruning Sets Trees Up for Spring Growth
There’s something magical about autumn. The air gets crisp, leaves turn into fiery mosaics, and your yard suddenly looks like it belongs on a postcard. But behind that seasonal beauty, your trees are quietly preparing for their next big act—spring growth. Here’s the kicker: how you care for your trees in the fall can make…
6 Bulbs to Plant Now for a Spring Surprise
You know that magical feeling when spring finally rolls around—the frost melts, birds return, and suddenly your yard looks alive again? Imagine stepping outside after a long winter and being greeted by bursts of color you planted months ago and totally forgot about. That’s the beauty of fall bulb planting: you do the work now,…