The Superior Express -

Now that we have made it past false spring and second winter, many of us are yearning to get out into the garden. Try not to get too overzealous. The experts say we should wait until daytime temperatures are more than 50º to avoid harming our pollinators and wildlife.

Our garden “mess” left over from the previous year provides a safe haven for all kinds of pollinators and insects. It also provides a food source for birds that have migrated back for the warmer months. Early spring is the time to take stock of what you have, make a list of what you may need, and repair any winter damage. Repair retaining walls, level out stepping stones, mend fences, decks, trellises and raised beds. While waiting for the temperatures to warm, you should plan, prepare, purchase seeds and build or expand on raised garden beds.

Once temperatures have warmed, we can begin cleaning debris from garden beds. Test the garden soil every 3 to 5 years. Knowing what is missing or an overabundance of in the soil will help you make informed decisions as to what to plant from year to year. The extension office is a great resource for this.

Spring is also a good time to clean out the garden pond, birdbath and feeders. A mixture of five parts water to one part bleach is recommended to care for any lingering disease or insect eggs.

If you are like me and fairly new to gardening, it is best to start off small, with easy-to-grow, hardy plants. I have had the best luck with green beans, tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers and beets. I am also terrible at weeding and watering so, last year, I mulched the garden and used a timer for my sprinkler. The mulch held the moisture in and kept most of the weeds at bay. The sprinkler timer just made life so much easier and helped my investment pay off.

I also added a fence around my garden last year. This kept my son from mowing off part of the crop and kept the mess from my neighbors’ view. This year I plan to add some chicken wire along the interior to keep out the “wascally wabbits” that ate my green beans last year. Had it been the right time of year, we would have enjoyed rabbit stew!

My son made a “Cold Box” for me; basically, a wooden frame with a window hinged on the top and is like a miniature greenhouse. I hope to make more of these this year for when I move my plants outside to harden before planting. It worked well last year, so I am hoping for the same result this year.