Ready, Set, Garden!

The last weekend in April always heralds in the spring gardening season with Home & Garden Idea Fair weekend. Green-thumbed locals have come to the event for nearly 30 years to find the hottest new plants, pick-up vegetable starts and connect with contractors who can turn outdoor spaces into a personal oasis. With people spending more time at home, a small investment can make a huge difference. While we won’t be able to hold our popular annual event due to Covid-19, here are some garden tips and resources to get your yard in shape for the return of warm weather.

Yard Prep
If you are one of the many fair weather gardeners, you might be a little bit behind in your garden preparations. Don’t despair. There is still time!

1. Clean up branches and other storm damage from the winter weather that stretched into spring. If trees and shrubs have breakage, use a pruner or saw and make a clean cut.

2. If trees are severely damaged, it may be time to remove and replace them. This is especially true if they have been planted in the wrong location such as under power lines. Here is a list of trees suitable to plant near power lines.

3. Schedule a backflow test for your irrigation system and fix sprinkler heads that have been damaged.

4. Plant your annuals and perennials, however check the weather report to see if there is going to be a frosty night in the next 10 days first. If so, hold off for a couple of weeks.

5. Sharpen and oil garden tools.

6. Have a garden question? Contact your WSU Master Gardeners.

Vegetable Garden Prep
1. Clean up the garden beds, removing dead plant material and weeds. This is also a good time to keep your eyes out for slugs and snails and address that issue before your new garden becomes a feast for garden pests.

2. Add 1-2 inches of compost to your beds. (Note: The best time to do this is in the fall so it has time to break down, but it can still help in the spring.)

3. If you have not had a soil test done in recent years, now’s the time so you know the health of your soil andwhat amendments are needed.

4. Take inventory of where you planted things last year and rotate them into a new location to help with pests and disease.

5. If you started seeds indoors, start gradually exposing them to sun and wind and different temperatures before planting.

Garden Inspiration
1. Visit your location nurseries to see what is new and pick up the plants you need to spruce up your yard. While we won’t be together at the Home & Garden Idea Fair, these local plant sale vendors you’d usually see at our event are a great place to start.

2. If that fence needs replacing or you are thinking about expanding your indoor living area into the outdoors with a patio or gazebo, check out our list of Clark County suppliers and contractors.

3. This may be the year to finally have your dream landscape installed. Those talented Washington Association of Landscape Professionals that create the Home & Garden Idea Fair showcase gardens are ready to make that happen.

4. Consider incorporating more native plants into your landscaping. There are many benefits for you and for wildlife.

We are disappointed that we will not be able to see you face-to-face this year at the Home & Garden Idea Fair and are looking forward to a return of the live event. In the meantime, whether you are looking for a contractor to bring your garden ideas to life, or you’re a do-it-yourselfer, we still have virtual resources for you. Give a click on the many links in the article and find your inspiration.