When winter finally lets go of us (and it will even if it doesn’t feel like it) we want to get outside; and the first thing that greets us is our yard and gardens. And yuck! Now what?? Where to start?

In order to ensure that we do not high tail it right back in the house after getting a good look at our sad plots, I’ve come up with three ways to get ready for spring:

~Begin with you~

Recently, my Master Gardner group had a visitor from the local physical therapist who stopped by to share with us how to prepare our bodies for spring gardening. Whether we are young or old this information is beneficial. If we do not take care when we charge out there as weekend warriors we can cost ourselves time and money from physical accidents caused by gardening. Garden fitness is sorely (get it sorely? Bah!) overlooked. Hydration is a major key to being in the garden. While sports drinks are marketed to quench our thirst the average person’s workout does not need a sport drink for rehydration. And we need to be mindful of our health issues as well. We may be a marathon runner but trust me those are not the muscles that will be needed primarily in the garden!

One question that was asked was, so while working in the garden how much water should we have to stay hydrated?

• Before exercise: At least 2 cups about 2 hours before you go in the garden. General rule, 1 quart per 50 lbs body up to 3 quarts.
• During exercise: Drink ½ cup every 10-15 minutes.
• After exercise: At least 2 glasses of water within 2 hours of finishing your gardening.

Note: Alcohol, tea or coffee are not our friends in the garden, they are diuretics and only encourage water loss. Stop and have a rest and a piece of fruit.  There is no urgency your garden and yes, the yard will be there in 15 minutes!

Remember, even if you are a marathon runner and in excellent shape, gardening works out a unique set of muscles–so don’t over do it, regardless of how fit you think you are.

~On to the house~

The exterior of your home is the first place to start. Check the eaves for cobwebs and sweep those puppies away! Check the windows to make sure they are in good repair as well as your shutters, if you have them. The gutters are important too. Old leaves from last fall have been waiting up there for us to remove. Whether you remove them or you get someone else to do it you will be surprised how this will help out. Tree limbs should be free of the roof, in a wind they can erode your roof and be a costly bummer!

Then stand next to the house and look behind your bushes and trees that surround the foundation of your house. If you put your head parallel to the house and if you cannot see at least two to four inches of clearance they need to be trimmed now during the cooler weather. This will save you costly repairs in your foundation and keep those pesky termites at bay. Oh and pull the mulch around from the base two to four inches too!

~Now…The Yard!~

The grass is the number one thing that we all want to look good. In order to prepare you grass for the season it is best to know what your soil and grass needs are. Major DIY home stores offer pre-emergence, weed and feed and grasses for the masses but YOU are not the masses. Unfortunately, one size does not fit all. So how do you know which one is good for you? Well, you can ask your neighbor but what works for him may not work for you. Really how is best way to save time, money and energy? The best way is to start with a soil sample. You can find a kit online or contact your local County Extension Office and simply follow the directions and viola! You have a road map for your fertilization needs! And there you are, low to no stress. Like knowing the vitamins to take for you, now you help yard to be healthy too!

What about those flower beds? I always follow the concept of  “Begin with the End in Mind” that Steven Covey includes in his seven habits of success. I need to know what I want my garden and yard to be like before I get started. Maybe we cannot do all of what we want this year but over time we can….. and now I can have my coffee! I take my cup in hand with a pen and paper and stroll the back yard then mosey out to the front yard. As I look at my trees, bushes, flowers, and grass along with pruning issues that will need to be addressed for the season I jot down some notes. Make a list of what I can do now and what I can do over time. A great yard and garden usually takes an evolution of three to five years to “wow” your neighbors!

Yard tools need to be cared before the season is in full swing, mowers, edgers, weed whackers, hand tools, etc. If you didn’t cleaned them up before you put them away last fall this is a good thing to do now.

And whew! That is about it for a good start on spring gardening! Now you can sit on the patio knowing you have in mind what you want to do and are on the road to a great season. So get ready to bring out the barbeque and enjoy the fruits of your labor. I don’t know about you but I am itching to get out there. But for now grab your garden catalogs and another cuppa Joe and dream on! Happy Gardening!

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