When you are in the middle of a cold, dark winter, it can be hard to remember that spring and summer are just around the corner. You’ll be out in your backyard enjoying the nice weather before you know it. Be prepared to get your garden ready for spring with these three tips.

1. Order Mulch Early

Mulch is an important part of garden care. Putting it in garden beds and around trees can help to conserve water, improve the health of the soil and reduce the number of weeds that can grow. A nicely mulched garden is also very visually appealing. Mulch can be made from a variety of materials, but you are probably most familiar with temporary mulch. This mulch is usually made from wood chips, like hemlock New Brighton PA, and needs to be replaced every year. Beat the rush in the spring by ordering your mulch early.

2. Plan Your Plantings

Unless your garden is completely comprised of perennial plants that come back every year, you will probably need to plant new flowers. If you are going to grow your flowers from seed, you’ll need to start early. You can get the flowers started indoors under a grow light and move them outdoors when there isn’t any frost at night. Flowers are easy to grow from seed, so don’t be afraid if you’ve never done so before.

3. Prune Perrenials

It may seem counterintuitive, but some perennials need to be cut back in the spring because they will only grow new branches. Prune them in the spring so they don’t get damaged in the winter weather. You might see when they’re ready to be pruned, as buds will grow on lower stem portions or there will be new growth.

Take the time to follow these suggestions and your garden will be a wonderful place to spend time during the warmer weather.