How to Prepare Your Garden for Spring

Winter is slowly coming to an end, and it’s that time when you start thinking about the garden again.

For many gardeners, it’s a moment to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty, but right now, it’s not quite time to plant seeds.

Preparing the garden for spring means getting everything set up so plants can grow strong and healthy throughout the season.

What I mean is, you should take a little extra time to clean up, check your equipment, and even plan out where everything will go.

Sure, it might feel like more work up front, but taking care of a few things now will definitely pay off in the long run—trust me.

In this article, I’ll share 10 ways to get everything ready before spring arrives, so your garden has the best start when the weather warms up.

Let’s get into it!

1. Clean Your Garden

Before anything else, the first thing you need to do is clean up the garden—even if it feels like a bit of work.

You don’t have to be overly thorough, but getting rid of dead plants, old leaves, and any other mess that built up over the winter really helps.

Think of it like walking into a room full of clutter—it feels a little off, right?

The same thing happens with the garden. All that debris can attract pests, like aphids or slugs, which might end up causing trouble for your plants once they start growing.

And if that stuff sticks around for too long, it can also invite diseases—definitely not something you want spreading to your plants.

Once you clear everything away, your garden gets a fresh start, and the air around it feels better too (it’s not just the garden that benefits).

A clean garden also gives you more room to work with when it’s time to plant.

So, while it might take some time to clear things out, the effort will be worth it once everything is neat and ready for the new season.

If you're just starting out, check out our guide on how to start a garden for beginners to help you get going.

2. Prune Trees and Shrubs

If you have any trees or shrubs in your garden, I suggest pruning them.

Pruning might seem intimidating at first, but cutting off dead or damaged branches really helps plants grow better.

When you remove the old, the plant can focus its energy on fresh, healthy growth—it’s like shifting its focus from what’s not working to what’s going to thrive.

Those dead or damaged branches can hold the plant back, so by cutting them off, you give the plant the space it needs to grow new, strong branches, leaves, and flowers.

Pruning also helps keep pests or diseases from taking over, as those old branches can attract trouble (definitely something you don’t want in your garden).

It’s a simple step that can make a big impact on the overall health and appearance of your plants.

3. Test and Amend Soil

You can have the best plants in the world, but if your soil isn’t in good shape, they won’t get far.

That’s why I recommend testing your soil first. Testing the soil isn’t as complicated as it sounds.

You can grab a simple test kit from a garden store to check the pH levels and identify what’s missing.

If the soil is too acidic or lacking in nutrients, adding a bit of compost, manure, or a specific fertilizer (based on the soil test results) can make all the difference.

This step ensures your plants get the nutrients they need to develop strong roots—which are essential for a good start in the spring.

4. Plan Your Garden Layout

Before planting seeds, it’s worth taking a moment to figure out where everything should go.

It can be tempting to start right in and start planting, but trust me, spacing plants correctly will help them get better access to essentials like sunlight, air, and water.

For example, placing tall plants like sunflowers at the back of the bed ensures that shorter ones, like lettuce or carrots, get all the sunlight they need.

You don’t want to end up with some plants hidden behind others, competing for light.

As you plan your layout, take a moment to reflect on what worked well in your garden last year.
Were there any plants that thrived?

Maybe your tomatoes did so well that you’re thinking of trying a different variety this year.

Or perhaps you grew an abundance of basil and now want to experiment with other herbs

This is also a great time to consider trying new plants you’ve never grown before but are curious about.
A little reflection can help you figure out what will work best for this season.

Spending a bit of extra time on your raised garden bed layout now will definitely pay off in the long run.

If you plan ahead, you won’t have to worry about overcrowding, and each plant will have enough space to grow.

It’ll save you the headache later when everything is thriving without getting cramped.

So, while it might feel like more work up front, you’ll be glad you took the time to set things up right.

5. Start Seeds Indoors

If the weather isn’t warm enough to start planting outdoors yet, starting seeds indoors is a practical way to get ahead.

Some plants, like tomatoes or peppers, need a longer growing season.

By starting them indoors in early spring, you’ll give them a head start and can move them outside once the weather warms up.

Grab some seed trays (or repurpose old containers like yogurt cups with holes in the bottom), set them up by a sunny window or under a grow light, and soon you’ll have healthy seedlings.

By the time the soil is warm enough outdoors, your plants will already be strong and ready to thrive when transplanted.

To ensure your transplants do well, one important aspect to focus on is learning how to water your transplants properly.

6. Divide Perennials

As you get ready for the spring growing season, it’s a great time to check if any of your perennials have become too crowded over the winter.

Before everything starts sprouting and the growing season gets underway, take a walk around your garden and look for any perennials that seem a bit cramped.

You’ll probably notice areas where plants are too close to each other.

If you find any, this is the perfect time to dig them up, split them into smaller sections, and replant them in spots where they’ll have more space to stretch out.

The best part? Not only will your plants have room to grow healthier and bloom more, but you’ll also get some extra plants for free.

Instead of buying new ones, you can use the divisions to fill in empty spots—or even share them with friends.

7. Sharpen and Clean Tools

It might not be the most exciting part of getting ready for spring, but cleaning and sharpening your tools will make everything easier when it’s time to dive into actual gardening.

Over time, tools like shovels, pruners, or hoes can get caked with dirt, rust, or sticky sap—it’s easy for them to get messy.

Taking a few minutes to clean them up and sharpen the edges will help them cut through soil or branches effortlessly, without getting stuck or causing damage.

For example, a sharp pruner makes clean cuts, which helps plants heal faster and grow better.
It also means you’re less likely to tear or damage the plant.

This small task can make the bigger ones go much smoother.

The time you invest now will pay off when you’re working with tools that actually do their job the way they’re supposed to.

8. Mulch Garden Beds

Another thing you can do to get ready for spring is to add mulch to your garden.

Mulch helps keep the soil moist, protects plant roots from extreme cold or heat, and prevents weeds from growing—which saves you time.

You can use straw, wood chips, or even leaves as mulch, and as they break down, they’ll also improve the soil.

Just be careful not to pile the mulch too close to plant stems, as this can cause them to rot.

A nice, even layer of mulch acts like a blanket for your plants, keeping them safe and warm as they start growing.

Oh, and one more thing—it helps reduce the need for frequent watering, making your growing season a bit easier to manage.

9. Install or Repair Garden Structures

Garden structures like raised beds, trellises, or fences are important things to address when getting your garden ready for spring.

After the winter months, these structures might need a little attention.

A trellis could have come loose in the wind, or a raised bed might have cracked from freezing temperatures.

It’s a good idea to check them over before planting begins.

If you’re thinking of adding something new, like a compost bin or a garden path, now is the time to get it done.

Taking care of these tasks early makes everything easier later on.

If you’re considering raised garden beds (check out some raised garden bed ideas), they can make your growing season much easier to manage.

For example, adding raised garden beds along a fence is a great way to maximize your space and keep things neat.

Putting in the effort now to get your structures in place will save you a lot of hassle once the growing season picks up.

10. Set Up a Compost System

Composting is one of those tasks that pays off big time in the long run.

If you’ve got kitchen waste or garden trimmings piling up, why not turn them into something useful?

Setting up a compost system at the start of spring gives you an easy way to recycle organic waste and naturally enrich your soil.

You don’t need anything complicated. Just layer green materials (like veggie scraps) and brown materials (like dried leaves or cardboard) in a bin or pile.

Over time, this mix will break down into rich compost that helps your plants grow strong—without the need for synthetic fertilizers.

It’s simple, eco-friendly, and keeps your garden healthy all season long.

For a more detailed guide, check out the Berkeley Composting Method to efficiently set up your composting system.

Good luck!

These steps might seem like a lot at first, but with a little time and effort now, your garden will be ready to produce beautiful, healthy plants throughout the season.

When the work’s done, it’s incredibly rewarding—and seeing everything grow strong throughout the year is the best part.

Get growing!

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