spring to-do list

a general spring to-do list, and to-get list, before the season gets going.

1) clean out and scrub up your pots, birdbaths, birdfeeders, and anything else that spent the winter grungy or neglected. if you are reusing pots from last season, wash them with a weak bleach solution, rinse well, and let dry in the sun, to prevent the spread of mold spores or bacteria to your new crops.

2) inspect all pots, lanterns, birdbaths, etc for cracks and chips that they might have sustained over the winter. toss them or reuse the ceramics for craft projects. broken glass and broken pottery have no place in the yard with bare feet running in the summer. trust me.

3) clean up your tools. use steel wool and mineral oil to scrub off rust and lubricate all moving parts. don't have good tools? you'll need some if you want to get serious this year with your veggies. at minimum, i recommend a good hand trowel, a very sharp pair of scissors/shears, the best quality pruner you can afford for woody branches and larger stems, and sturdy and protective gardening gloves.

4) in addition, you might want to add to your shopping list: zinc plant tags that you can reuse year after year and a marker to write on them; soft velcro plant ties to stake floppy tomatoes and peas; and a good (and big) watering can if your hose doesn't reach all over your yard.

5) good quality, organic potting soil and good quality organic compost. add sand to this list if you do cacti/succulents. do not use garden soil in containers. EVER. it compacts in the pot and does not allow for good drainage.

6) organic fertilizer. you will need this later in the season as things start growing fast, especially if they are in pots, as nutrients tend to wash out quickly from potting soil in containers.

once you have all your tools and equipment clean and ready, your new fluffy dirt ready to go, and your baby plant seedlings purchased from the nursery or farmer's market, all you need is a nice warm sunny day to get everything laid out and in the ground (or in pots). and i'd recommend a hearty cocktail at the end of the day, also. ;)