We’re well into January, although you’d never guess it with the above-average temperatures we’re currently experiencing in Southwestern Ontario! While the cold and snow will likely return soon enough, this respite has many of us fantasizing about spring pursuits like gardening.
Although most of your gardening work has to wait for warmer weather, there are certain things you can do right now. This blog shares some tips for starting your garden early, even when the drifts are high and temperatures are low.
Get Design Inspiration From Pinterest
If you’re not familiar with Pinterest, it’s a visual discovery search engine that people use to share and find ideas like interior design, the latest fashions, and garden layouts. Type ‘garden design’ into the search bar and you’ll find hundreds of choices that you can narrow down even further.
Getting an idea of what other people are doing with their gardens can help you identify what you really want yours to look like in the spring. Depending on the size of your property, you may want a simple flower bed and some shrubbery, or you may opt for hardscaping features like pergolas, retaining walls, and even a swimming pool! If you’re looking for hardscaping ideas, we’ve written a detailed blog on the subject!
Repair and Replace Garden Tools if Needed
Bring your garden tools out of storage and examine them. Although hand trowels, shovels, rakes, pruners, and other implements can last for years if they’re of decent quality, sooner or later you’ll need to repair or replace them.
Divide the tools into three piles- one for those that are still in good condition, one for those needing repairs, and the third for broken or outdated tools that need to be replaced. Once you’re done, you can:
- Reach out to your local garden centre to see if they can introduce you to someone who repairs garden tools.
- Go online or visit a home hardware store to shop for replacements.
Draw the Layout of Your Garden
If you saw anything on Pinterest that inspired you or you have your own ideas about what your garden should look like, draw a layout. You can use a pen and paper to draw a layout or, if you have graphic design skills, create a more elaborate vision of your future garden. This way, you’ll have a strong blueprint ready to guide your landscaper when you’re ready to hire one.
Order Your Seeds in Advance
Did you know that January is the busiest time for seed companies? For a successful gardening season, it’s essential to get started early. Before seeds can be planted outside, they must germinate in specific conditions, and not all conditions are the same. Some seeds require a lot of light, while others don’t. If you germinate your seeds properly before planting time, you will have a greater chance of success when growing season arrives.
Congrats on Starting Your Garden Early!
It’s never too early to get started on this spring’s gardening. Whether you’ve been maintaining a garden for ages or are taking the plunge this year, these tips can help you grow results that you’re proud of! They’re easy to implement and can make a huge difference in the way your garden looks this year.
If you’ve been thinking about installing some hardscaping features to compliment your garden, such as an outdoor kitchen or new pool, now is also a good time to discuss your ideas with a local landscaping company! At Green Collar Landscaping, we can work with you to create the yard (and garden) of your dreams: to get started, contact us today.