Prepare Your Garden for a Summer
Preparing your garden for summer is the key to planting in healthy, vibrant soil, giving you bigger harvest this summer. By taking the time now to amend your soil and address any ground issues, you’ll create the perfect environment for your plants to thrive. Whether it’s enriching your soil with nutrients or tackling compacted areas, there are many things you can do now that will greatly impact your entire growing season.
How to Start a Backyard Garden by reseting your growing before you put seeds into the ground, giving you a clean and healthy soil base to grow in.
The one thing about gardening that I enjoy most is getting my hands dirty. After spending months in doors over the winter, I am itching to get outside and move my stale muscles.
Spring is a great time to clean not only your home and your body, but your garden area as well. When things sit dormant for months there are a few things you will want to do before you start planting seeds in the ground.
The Foundation of a Thriving Garden
Gardening isn’t just about planting seeds and hoping for plump, juicy tomatoes to appear. It starts with understanding your soil—the good, the bad, and even the not-so-pretty parts. Reflect on how things grew last season, test where your soil is at now, and identify any issues that need to be tackled head-on.
If you’re aiming for a bountiful harvest this summer, your soil is the key player. The nutrients it holds—or lacks—can make all the difference. Taking the time to reset your soil to it’s best before planting gives your crops the best chance to flourish all season long.
If pests were a problem last season, it’s important to identify what they were and understand how they may have survived the winter to better prepare your garden for the growing season ahead.
Do Pests Die Over the Winter in a Garden?
There’s a common misconception that pests die off over the winter. Actually, many pests find clever ways to survive through the cold months. This means that you’ll likely see returning threats to your garden come summer.
The good news is there are things you can do now to help prevent a full infestation from taking over.
Prepare Your Garden for Summer
The start of spring isn’t just about new beginnings; it’s about hitting the reset button on last year’s growth. Few areas in gardening are as important as soil health and spring is the best time rejuvenate your growing space.
Clearing and Cleaning
Clear out the remnants of last year’s growth as well as any debris that gathered over the winter so you can get down to the soil.
#1. Remove Any Large Debris from Winter
Start by removing any large items like branches, trash or misc items. Have a wheelbarrow or dump cart near by to toss items in as you find them. You can recycle any healthy items in your compost area and toss the rest in your trash.
SLCG Pro Tip: If you had issues with disease last growing season, do not put those plants in your compost bin. Instead, dispose of them in a designated spot far away from your garden to reduce the risk of disease spreading to your new plants.
#2. Rake Away Smaller Items
Use a sturdy garden rake to clear away smaller items like leaves, twigs, or leftover mulch from last year. This not only prevents trip hazards but also aerates the soil and helps break down organic material.
#3. Deal with rocks
Rocks can block roots from growing properly, disrupt the even flow of water, and even become a haven for pests. To help make this chore a bit easier, consider enlisting some help to gather and relocate any large rocks to a different area. You can use rocks for row markers or as a garden boarder.
Once the mess from winter and last years growing is gone, you can tackle the soil.
Prepping the soil
The most important area of your garden is the soil and your job is to ensure it is at it’s healthiest for your plants to grow.
#1. Test Your Soil’s pH
Knowing where your soil is at now will tell you where to go next. Use a home testing soil kit to measure your soil’s pH. Understanding acidity or alkalinity is vital for planting the right crops, so let’s go over that quickly.
SONKIR Soil pH Meter, MS02 3-in-1 Soil Moisture/Light/pH Tester Gardening Tool Kits for Plant Care, Great for Garden, Lawn, Farm, Indoor & Outdoor Use (Green)Garden Tutor Soil pH Test Kit (3.5-9 Range) | 100 Soil pH Tester Strips – Test Soil Acidity and Alkalinity of Garden Lawn Grass Flower Vegetable Compost Indoor and Outdoor Plants
Luster Leaf 1601 Rapitest Test Kit for Soil pH, Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potash, 1 Pack
What is Alkaline Soil?
Alkaline soil is soil with a pH level above 7, indicating it is less acidic. This type of soil often contains higher levels of calcium carbonate and can affect the availability of nutrients to plants, sometimes requiring specific amendments to support optimal plant growth.
What plants prefer alkaline soil?
Plants that prefer alkaline soil include asparagus, beets, cabbage and spinach.
How Can You Amend It?
To amend alkaline soil, you can add organic matter like compost or peat moss to increase acidity. Incorporating sulfur or ammonium sulfate can also help lower the pH over time, making the soil more suitable for a wider range of plants.
What is Acidic Soil?
Acidic soil has a pH level below 7, indicating higher acidity. This type of soil can limit the availability of certain nutrients to plants, often requiring specific amendments to balance its pH for optimal plant growth.
What Plants Prefer Acidic Soil?
Vegetable plants that prefer acidic soil include potatoes, sweet potatoes, radishes, and carrots.
How Can You Amend It?
To amend acidic soil, you can add lime (calcium carbonate) to raise the pH level. This helps neutralize the acidity, making the soil more suitable for a wider range of plants. It’s important to test the soil pH first to determine the appropriate amount of lime needed.
What is the Ph sweet spot for growing?
For most produce, the best pH range is between 6.0 and 7.0. It’s a sweet spot where plants can soak up all the nutrients they need to grow strong and healthy. If the soil is too acidic or too alkaline, those nutrients can get locked up, which could lead to problems like deficiencies or even toxicity in the plants.
By adjusting your soil’s pH to fall into this range, you’re giving your garden the best chance to thrive and stay productive. It’s like setting your plants up for success right from the start.
#2. Adding Compost If Needed
Compost is gold for any gardener that is preparing their garden for summer because it can amend most issues and boost the health of soil organically. Adding a healthy dose each spring and then throughout the growing seasons is a great routine most gardeners use.
A thick layer worked into the topsoil now will revitalize the garden for planting. You can use a rake to work the compost into the soil allowing it to rest for a few days before planting.
Planning for the Season
Planning plays an important role in gardening and will help you to prevent issues from recurring year over year. There are certain things I like to have records on that you may also want to include in your garden notes:
- Crop rotation
- Companion Planting
- Diseases from last year
- Pests from last year
- What was planting
- Harvest numbers for each crop
Using a Garden Planner
Whether it’s a journal specifically for gardening or a simple notebook, it is important to keep detailed records of what you plant where and how well it performs. Over the years, your notes will become your garden’s history book, allowing you to improve what you grow and how you are growing it.
Rotate Plant Locations
Moving your crops around each year isn’t just something farmers do—it’s a great growing tip for home gardeners too. By planting in different spots every season, you’re giving your soil a chance to stay balanced and avoid running out of key nutrients that your plants need.
Plus, rotating crops helps keep pests away since many bugs tend to stick to specific plants. It’s a simple change that can make a big difference for a healthy, productive garden.
SLCG Pro Top: Keep records of your growing layout each year so you remember what you planted and grew in each area.
Companion Gardening
Companion gardening is all about teaming up the right plants to help each other grow better. When you plant certain crops close together, they can work together to keep pests away, attract helpful insects, or even share nutrients. It’s like creating a little community in your garden where everything works as a team, leading to healthier plants and a more productive vegetable garden.
Get our Companion Gardening Checklist Here and add it to your garden binder so you can refer to it each planting season.
Misc Prep and Updates
Spring is a great time to make any improvements or updates to your backyard vegetable garden. It’s your chance to make changes that not only boost your harvest but also create a setup that’s easier to manage.
#1. Prepping support
Tall plants like tomatoes, beans, or peas need strong support and now is a good time to clean and prep what you have used in the past so you are starting fresh.
To clean any tomato cages or stakes used last year, wash in soapy water, rinse thoroughly and let dry in the sun.
Check your supports for any damage and either repair or consider replacing.
GROWNEER 3 Packs Tomato Cages for Garden, 51 Inches Tomato Trellis Plant Stakes Support, Tomatoes Plant Cage with 9Pcs Clips and 328Ft Twist Tie, for Vegetable Flowers Fruits Vertical Climbing PlantsGAGINANG Plant Stakes Natural Garden Bamboo Sticks for Indoor and Outdoor, 20pcs for Tomatoes, Beans, Potted Plants – 18 inches
Adjustable Tomato Plant Support Cages 36 inches Garden Cucumber Trellis, Stake with 4 Adjustable Support Rings for Vegetables,Flowers,Fruit,Rose Vine Climbing Plants (4 Pack )…
Gardeners Supply Company Two Panel Folding Garden Trellis | Sturdy Metal Frame Outdoor Cucumber, Pea Trellis & Other Climbing Vegetable Garden Plants Support | 35-1/2
Gardeners Supply Company Sturdy Expandable Tall Pea Trellis for Climbing Plants | Multi-Use Heavy Duty Outdoor Garden Peas, Tomato, Cucumber Steel Plant Support | 9′-8
MQHUAYU Cucumber Trellis for Raised Bed,47.2×47.2 inch U-Shape Garden Trellis for Climbing Plants Outdoor, Metal Arch Vegetables Trellis, Plant Support for Vegetable Fruit Flower Vine
You can DIY a variety of supports for your vegetable garden to help plants grow strong and healthy. Here are a few ideas:
- Trellises: Use wood, bamboo, or even repurposed materials like old ladders to create trellises for climbing plants like beans, peas, and cucumbers.
- Tomato Cages: Make your own using wire mesh or sturdy sticks to support tomato plants as they grow.
- Stakes: If you have unused fence stakes, they can be used to support taller plants like peppers and eggplants.
- A-Frames: Construct A-frame supports with wood or metal for vining plants, providing a sturdy structure for them to climb.
- Fence Panels: Fence panels are great to use as support in a garden for most vining plants such as beans or peas.
Fencing for Protection
If you have rabbits, dear, or other wildlife in your garden, a quick solution is a good fence. A fence is affective with not only nature, but other issues such as chickens, young children or pets.
10 Panels No Dig Decorative Outdoor Garden Fence with Gate for Yard, 32 in(H) X 23.6 ft(L) Animal Barrier Fencing Rustproof Metal Wire Panel Border for Dog, Rabbits, and Patio Temporary Ground StakesGoovilla Garden Fence, Total 10ft(L) x 24in(H) Garden Fencing Animal Barrier, 10 Pcs Rustproof Metal Fence Panels, Black No Dig Fence, Decorative Garden Fences and Borders for Dogs, Flower Bed, Patio
PotatoLife Plastic Mesh Fence Safety Fence, 4’x100′ Roll with 100 Zip Ties, Resuable Temporary Netting for Garden Fencing, Construction, Snow Fencing, Animal Barrier, Poultry, Deer, Patio, Green
Alternative Growing Methods
If you want to expand your garden but the work is just more than you have time for, you can add a few alternative methods this year so you can try out a bigger layout.
#1. Raise Beds
Raised beds are a great way to quickly set up a new growing area and fill it with compost and soil giving you a healthy area for plants to grow.
You can build a raised bed or purchased one if it’s int he budget. Raised beds also allow you to grow more in a small space making the best use of your backyard setup.
#2. Grow Bags
Grow bags are fabric containers used for planting vegetables and other plants. They come in a variety of sizes and work well for just about any fruit or vegetable you grow.
The fabric allows excess water to drain away, preventing overwatering and root rot and their portability allows you to tuck them into unused spaces making the most of your area.
Also, the breathable fabric helps regulate soil temperature, keeping roots cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
Overall, grow bags offer a flexible and efficient way to cultivate a variety of vegetables, especially in urban or limited-space environments.
#3. Straw Bales
Straw bale gardening is a unique and accessible way to grow vegetables, perfect for those with poor soil, physical limitations, or limited space.
The method involves placing straw bales in a sunny spot and conditioning them with water and fertilizer to jumpstart decomposition, which creates a nutrient-rich growing environment. Once ready, you can plant seeds or seedlings directly into the bales.
This approach provides excellent drainage, minimizes soil-borne diseases, and raises the plants for easier care. Plus, it’s versatile enough to set up on any surface, even concrete, making it an innovative solution for gardeners of all kinds.
Read More on Straw Bale Gardening:
With just a bit of planning and preparation, your garden can set yourself up with an amazing garden this growing season.
Whether you’re fixing last years issues, experimenting with new growing techniques or improving your current setup, every effort you put in will help your garden flourish. Start today preparing your garden for summer and watch you time investment pay off.