Tips for Spring Gardening

It happens every year.

One day it’s gloomy, bleak, and cold, and the next it’s warm and sunny. With the sunshine, you start thinking about spring gardening, but you didn’t prepare as you should have.

What do you do? It’s easy.

Spring gardening can be a fun and relaxing activity, especially if it’s done correctly. By following these simple tips, you will make the most out of spring gardening.

• The first step to spring gardening is sharpening your tools. Start early and sharpen all your tools, such as shovels, hoes, and pruning shears, to a fine edge. We carry any easy to use sharpening tool in the Wingard’s Market Gift Shop. You may even want to splurge on buying a second, well-sharpened blade for your lawnmower. That way you will have a spare if the one currently on your lawnmower needs to be sharpened. A sharp mower blade is critical if you want to have a beautiful lawn. Dull blades can injure your grass and allow the disease to creep in, which can be costly in the long run to correct.
• If you plan to put in a new lawn or plant bed, or if you had problems getting things to grow properly last year, you may want to get your soil tested. A soil test will tell you exactly what type of nutrients are needed to assure your yard looks the best it can. (We carry Clemson Extention Soil Test bags here at Wingard’s)
• A helpful tip for spring gardening, especially if you need a little help getting your yard into shape, is using our landscape design services early, before the rush starts. The later in the season you call, the longer your wait time for an appointment.
• Make arrangements early to buy sod or for sod delivery, if you plan to put in a new lawn. You should choose only moist rolls. Any that have dry roots or yellowed turf is no good.
• Keeping a journal is a great way to keep track of plants during spring gardening. You can write down what was a success last year, what was a failure, and what plants should be moved with the change of seasons. It will prove not only useful this year but also next year when you may not remember all of the small details. Keeping informational plant tags comes in handy, when you want to replace or add more of a particular variety.
• A definite must is throwing away any outdated chemicals. Follow the instructions on the label. Also, check to make sure those you are keeping are stored where children and pets cannot get to them.
• Tilling the soil where you plan to begin your spring gardening is essential. Handfuls of the soil should easily crumble. Add soil amendments:  Wingard’s Soil Conditioner for clay soil, and Wingard’s Premium Potting Mix for sandy soil.  The additional composted organic matter will enrich your sandy soil, which is devoid of nutrients.  At Wingard’s, we recommend Stout Ollie, a made- in South Carolina compost consisting of plant material from the cotton ginning process, fish trimmings from the Santee Cooper lakes and cow manure from the manufacturer’s own herd.
• Lastly, while engaging in spring gardening, you have to remember to prune. Generally, you prune spring-blooming shrubs immediately after the flowers fade. 

Now that you know what to do, your spring gardening won’t be so much of a chore, but more of a pleasure and a chance to get out and enjoy that spring sunshine.

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Here at Wingard’s Market, we specialize in providing outstanding customer service, offering professional gardening advice, and answers to your everyday gardening questions. Stop by and visit our Beautiful Gift Shoppe and Fresh Produce Market while you stroll under century-old pecan trees. It’s truly a Garden Wonderland!

Located at 1403 North Lake Drive in Lexington, SC. Call us at (803) 359-9091