One of the first tasks for many gardeners is preparing raised beds for spring planting. This is typically done after the threat of frost has reduced and the soil is no longer frozen. See below how I prep my raised beds for spring!
When To Prep Raised Garden Beds?
The best time to begin prepping your raised beds will differ depending on what USDA zone you are in. Here in zone5b it will vary depending on how harsh our winter has been. This year I have just started surface cleaning in and it’s the third week of March. Our temperatures are still fluctuating quite a bit with some nights dipping below freezing. The threat of frost for us is typically around the first week or so in May.
So until the soil has thawed out completely, I am currently cleaning as I go on the surface. Once temperatures have finally risen enough to thaw out the soil completely, then I can go in and work the soil to ensure I am boosting it chock full of nutrients needed for my flowers and veggies.
How To Prep Raised Beds?
Before soil has thawed, you will want to focus on cleaning up your beds. This means removing any debris that may have fallen onto your beds during fall and winter.
After the soil has thawed, your main focus will be on amending your soil with plenty of nutrients for your crops to thrive on! Additionally, if there are any repairs you need to do on your beds now would be the perfect time! In the start of my spring cleanup this past week, I noticed some of the boards to my raised beds have started to rot, so I had to work on reenforcing those. But it’s a great time to make any adjustments now before you have crops growing.
Lastly, if you deal with curious garden critters like squirrels, I recommend ensuring proper protection to growing bulbs (or any bulbs you are going to plant soon). This way your spring bulbs are protected and will ensure a beautiful show in the coming weeks! We have some hungry squirrels that have an appetite for my growing tulips. So I recently placed some chicken wire fencing and frost cloths on my in ground garden beds (this would work on your raised beds as well) to deter squirrels. I prefer to put up a physical deterrent as opposed to trying to use any chemicals.
Here’s a summary of what you should be doing in prep for spring planting:
- Remove debris
- Inspect the integrity of your beds
- Identify if any repairs need to be done and perform as needed
- Amend soil with nutrients (compost, bone meal, bio-tone, blood meal etc)
- Install protection to beds (if worried about garden critters)-frost cloth, chicken wire fencing, garden hoops etc.
- Inspect and prepare any drip irrigation
This week I was able to get my garden hoops and frost cloth set up. It’s not quite warm enough to amend the soil yet but I have one step out of the way! I have roughly a few hundred ranunculus bulbs presprouting in our basement at the moment just waiting to be planted once it’s warm enough!! 🙂
Items Needed To Begin?
There really isn’t a whole lot you need for prepping raised beds for spring planting. It all depends on what you have on hand. All you really need is compost, a pitch fork and some frost cloth.
However, if you do not have access to homemade compost, or you want to boost your beds with even more nutrients, here’s a list of what I’m currently using this spring for my own beds if you are interested in giving it a try yourself!
- Pitchfork (to help turn your soil once thawed)
- Garden gloves (handy for removing debris)
- Soil amendment (compost, bone meal, blood meal, bio-tone)
- Bed protection (frost cloth, chicken wire fencing, garden hoops)
- Drip irrigation (if interested in setting up drip)
- If you are gardening in pots, I would recommend using pea gravel and placing on top of soil. This helps deter garden critters and helps to regulate your pots temperature more efficiently.
Here are some links to some products on Amazon in case you are interested! If you end up making a purchase I get a tiny commission, so thank you kindly! 🙂
Happy spring gardening!
-Kate
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