Gardening season is just a couple of months away, and our real estate agents are already planning ahead. After all, bountiful harvests come from gardens with year-round maintenance and planning. If you want your garden or landscaping to really thrive in the spring, a lot of the hard work starts in the winter. By preparing now, you can also make garden maintenance much easier in the spring and summer.

Here are some tips on how to prepare your garden for spring:

• Start By Taking An Inventory
  One of the first things we do every year is take an inventory of our tools and then do some preliminary sharpening and oiling as needed. Also, take an inventory of gardening supplies. Then head over to the local home improvement store and stock up on everything needed for the season. 
  
  
• Attend A "Gearing Up For Gardening" Seminar
  Learning tips from experts and collaborating with other Albany and Corvallis gardeners are some of the best ways to develop new ideas. Luckily, the Benton County Master Gardener Association holds several Gearing Up For Gardening seminars at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library throughout February to help you prepare for spring. The seminars take place every Tuesday from 12 pm to 2 pm and cover a wide range of topics. 
  
  
• Start Your Seeds Indoors
  If you want big beautiful plants as soon as spring arrives, starting your seeds indoors is the way to go. Indoor seeding gives your plants a head start on the season. However, this works better for some plants than others. Broccoli, cabbage, tomatoes, and peppers are great examples of plants that do well indoors. Root vegetables, on the other hand, don't handle the transplanting process very well.
  
  To get started, simply sow your seeds into pots or plug trays and water them regularly. You'll also need to make sure they receive adequate light, which can sometimes be challenging in the winter. While placing them near a window can help, the best solution is often to invest in a grow light. Once the plants have a couple of leaves and spring has arrived, you can transfer them outdoors.
  
  
• Do Some Spring Cleaning
  If your garden has some leftover leaves and debris from the fall, you'll want to do some tidying up before you begin planting. Make sure to get rid of any leaves that are still alive. Gather up any dead organic material and start a compost pile, which can provide you with some nutrient-rich fertilizer later in the season. 
  
  
• Prepare Your Soil
  After the last frost, you can head outside and prepare your soil. The soil is likely to be pretty firm, so you'll need to use a spade to loosen it up. Add compost, mulch, or fertilizer as needed. Once your garden bed is ready, you can finally begin planting!

Gardening is a fun hobby and a wonderful way to add some beauty to your yard. For more tips on how to make the most of your home's exterior, contact us today.