Following a long, cold winter, the idea of going outside on the very first warm day of spring and raking the thatch and winter debris off your lawn seems like a good cure for cabin fever.

But hold that rake! Whilst a bit of lawn work might be great for what ails you, working on your yard too early after the snow melts is likely to harm your turf.

Right up until grass dries out, raking is most likely to tear out grass and leave wide open areas in your lawn’s canopy in which weeds will find a home.

Mowing is likewise inadvisable so early in the spring. It’s additionally not necessary, as grass roots are not going to start growing before average everyday temperatures regularly hit 40° Fahrenheit. The blades or leaves of turf won’t show any development till the typical everyday temperature is around 50°.

Even stepping on the grass whilst the ground is still wet from the melted snow could do some damage merely by compacting the soil.

Grass roots, like leaves, have to breathe, and 1 of the great things with regards to the bone-chilling snow-filled winters in numerous states is that the ground is broken up as dampness caught in the soil gets frozen and thaws. That leaves cracks and crevices in the earth that help to drain excess moisture, and let your lawn to breathe.

When you walk on, rake, or mow your lawn too early during the spring, you are compacting the soil, slowing the drainage and blocking the roots of your lawn from easily breathing.

If you detect grub harm from last fall, there is not a good deal you are able to do about that in the spring either. Grub management is ineffective unless carried out in late summer or fall. In spring the grubs have already done the damage to your grass, and they are fairly resistant to insecticides.

Fertilizing your lawn is best left till late spring, although if you must do it earlier, you can pick a slow-release formulation with at least 25% nitrogen in water-insoluble form. But, , you’ll want to wait till your grass has dried out for greatest results.

Depending on where you live, if you are in the Northern Hemisphere it is probably time for you to plant. If you are planning to plant many of the most popular garden vegetables, now is the time.

We started planting about 3 weeks ago, as soon as the threat of frost was past. I like to plant tomato plants and bell pepper plants instead of starting with seeds. It’s much easier, and you get to enjoy the fruit sooner. So we planted 5 different types of tomato plants and 4 bell pepper plants.

My daughters planted seeds for carrots, beets, green beans, sweet corn, squash and cucumbers. The beans and carrots are already growing, and we expect to see little plants for the rest coming up from the ground soon.

This weekend my husband is hoping to dig up more area in our backyard so we can plant more sweet corn as well as plant parsley. The parsley we had to start indoors, and the plants are already about 2 inches high.

This summer we plan to do something that we’ve never tried before - planting corn, carrots, and beets every few weeks so we get the fruit scattered throughout the summer instead of all at once.

I highly recommend using the Miracle Grow vegetable mix, scattered over your garden about every 2-3 months. It says on the bag how often to use it. We use the Miracle grow tree mix for our newly-planted and young trees as well.

We just transplanted 2 trees that started growing in our yard in areas that we didn’t want trees. Looking forward to some great shade for the chickens in a few years. We also planted a nectarine tree this spring. So now we have avocado, apricot, kumquat, lemon and nectarine trees in our backyard.

Planting a garden is part of the fun of spring. It’s a way we can enjoy a full summer of some of our favorite vegetables. With some vegetables going up in prices (in our area cucumber prices have risen a lot) it’s also a way to save money.

Who doesn’t want a beautiful garden? Here are five more garden tips for creating that beautiful yard you have always wished for.

6. Identify your garden’s focal points.
Every garden needs an eye-catching spot that causes you to pause a moment. When you choose a focal point, you are choosing the direction you want visitors to look when they enter your garden. Did your list of “wants” include a waterfall or fountain? An arbor retreat? A blossoming apple tree? If so, you are well on your way to identifying a focal point — or points — for your garden.

7. Create a rough design.
Take all the information that you’ve gathered and incorporate it into a workable design that balances the “wants” with the “must haves”. Your goal is to create a space that is both satisfying and functional.

Buy a pad of graph paper that contains 8 or 10 squares per inch and let each square equal one foot. (In other words, every inch on the paper will equate to 8 or 10 feet on your property.) Create a basic map with your property lines and house drawn to scale.
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Gardening is perhaps one of the best hobbies that a more laborious nature lover can take up. The reason why I choose to call this hobby laborious is because it surely does involve a good deal of physical activity.

This hobby is not meant for those nature lovers who simply want to bask in the natural beauty that already exists. Rather it is an ideal pass time for those who want to make their own contribution to the nature.

In order to be successful in gardening one must have the following qualities: -

1.) Besides having a love for gardening you should also have the will and determination to pursue your hobby.

2.) You must be physically fit and agile. Laziness and gardening are anonymous to each other.

3.) Learn to exchange your ideas and information with like-minded people who can show an equal passion for gardening.

4.) Try laying your hands on almost any books, magazines or articles that can enhance your knowledge on gardening.

5.) Be prepared to invest a small amount of your earnings in purchasing the “Can’t do without”, gardening tools.
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