Sharon has participated in weekly radio chats for over 10 years to share simple and practical gardening tips with her zone 3-4 listening audience of central Alberta; however, the garden practices and information she shares are applicable to gardens of all climates.
Today’s chat focuses the lens on perennial garden health as the snow melts.
Join this conversation with Sharon hosted by Jackie Rae of 840 CFCW AM as they informally chat about how to relax and let spring do its thing.
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Introduction
Jackie Rae:
Gardening with Sharon brought to you by Proven Winners, plan for spring and find your favourite plants at provenwinners.com.
Springtime; we’re getting itchy, Sharon. We wanna get in there.
Tip 1: Stay Calm and Let Spring Take It’s Course
Sharon:
Well, I don’t know about you, but when the weather warms up and the snow starts to recede, I can literally hear my garden calling.
No. No. No. Screaming to me to be in it and with it.
But that’s when I have to remind myself, number one, to stay calm and let spring take its course and allow the gradual snow melt to absorb into the soil.
With wet soil, we get soft soil, which takes us to tip number two.
Tip 2: Avoid Walking Through the Garden While the Soil is Wet and Soft
I say resist. I say repel. Deny.
Deny that pull to walk on your soft wet soil, and let the soil dry down before gallivanting through your garden because walking on wet soil can compact the air spaces.
And plant roots need air for their metabolic activities, and soil air spaces are also vital, Jackie Rae, for all the things related to water, like its ability to absorb, retain, distribute, and drain.
And all those things are related to the quality of the air pockets. If those pockets are squished out of the soil, it makes it more difficult for roots to grow and expand and then for water and air to penetrate into the soil.
So stay on the edge of your garden or on pathways until things really get dry.
And while you’re on the edge and on the pathways, do everything you can to allow your perennials to emerge naturally, which is the third step.
Tip 3: Avoid Disturbing Perennials as they Emerge From Dormancy
Perennials always waken in response to the environmental changes like longer, warmer days and the hours of sun intensity and the hours of sunlight.
And avoid poking at their crowns or the new growth or their roots during this process to check if they’re alive. They are alive.
And if you mess with their tender growth, you can damage them, and they won’t be alive. So just let them grow.
Don’t dig around in their roots. They’re gonna be okay.
Tip 4: Keep a Close Eye on the Hydration of Warm, South Facing Flowerbeds
And then number four, keep an eye on warm south facing flower beds that are next to buildings and fences that fall and lose their snow early because, they will dry out quicker.
So, monitor the moisture and then water them as needed.
There you go.
Jackie Rae:
Yeah. Great tips. And we can find these and so much more where?
Sharon:
You can find me on my website, Gardening with Sharon, and that’s also the name of Facebook and Instagram.
How Anxious are YOU for Spring?
The wait is almost over — spring is starting to emerge and soon we’ll be back in our gardens, hands in the soil, surrounded by life once again. There’s nothing quite like that first deep breath of fresh spring air, the sight of green shoots pushing through the earth, or the sound of birds returning to sing in the trees.
I know I’m not alone in that I absolutely cannot wait for my garden to be ready again!
If you’re as eager as I am to start the gardening season off right, now’s the time to prepare. A little care now will set your perennials up for a strong, healthy year.
Need some tips? Check out my other blogs for spring gardening advice, or sign up for my newsletter to get the latest straight to your inbox. Let’s dig in — spring is just around the corner!
More to Explore
- Spring Garden Cleanup that Protects Pollinators
- The Best Time to Prune Trees
- Everything You Need to Grow Great Tulips
- How to Grow Daffodils
- Understanding Perennial Seasons of Bloom [+ Perennial Flowering Reference Chart]
- Answering Your Most Asked Questions About Growing Peonies
- How to Get Rid of Delphinium Worms
© Sharon Wallish Murphy © Gardening with Sharon
