Spring is here! And while this spring definitely feels and looks different from anything we’re used to, nature is still something we can embrace. If you’re a gardener, this is probably one of your favorite times of the year. And if you have some extra time on your hands these days, you might want to give it a try this season! There are a lot of benefits to gardening as a hobby. You’ll spend time outside (get that vitamin D!), burn calories, do something productive, and relieve stress. Plus, if you plant a vegetable garden, it’ll encourage you to eat healthier and need less at the grocery store. It’s also an activity that the whole family can enjoy!
Below are some gardening tips for experienced gardeners and the newbies, too. And if you’re wondering where you can even shop for gardening supplies these days, scroll to the bottom. We’ve included local spots that are offering safe shopping options for Spring 2020.
Gardening Tips
Check Your Soil
It is important to make sure your soil is balanced and has the nutrients your plants need in it. Check the acid balance of your soil: most plants like a neutral soil, which means a ph reading of around 7 or just below. Soil PH testers are easy and cheap to buy from garden centers. If your soil is too acidic, then use lime to neutralize it. Organic matter helps feed plants, and should be mixed into your soil. If you don’t already have a compost heap, now might be the time to start one, or you can buy commercial compost in bags.
Treat Your Lawn
To have a healthy lawn, you need healthy soil. You don’t need strong chemical fertilizers. Some fertilizers can actually damage the lawn, causing the leaves to grow quicker than the roots and actually encouraging weeds. If your lawn is looking a little tired after winter, then there are things you can do to get it looking green and gorgeous without the need for chemicals. First, check its ph balance as you did for your soil. It should be slightly acidic, so around ph 5-6. Make sure you lawn is well aerated. Work over it with a fork, allowing both water and air to get to the roots of your grass. Spring is the best time of year to get rid of moss and use crabgrass preventer.
Make Plans
Spring is the time of year to make plans for your garden. What do you want to achieve over the next year? If you are just starting your garden, then you have a blank canvas. If you already have a mature garden, think about what you might like to do with it. Do you want to put in some new beds? Create a new water feature? Lay a new patio for summer barbecues? As plants grow best at this time of year, it is the ideal time to try out some new things.
Plant Flowers and Shrubs
This is a good time of year to sow some hardy annuals. Some less-hardy annuals should be started indoors, and then planted out in a month or so. Spring is also a good time to plant new shrubs and perennials, and to move shrubs from pots into beds. Make sure that before you plant anything you give your beds a thorough weeding: if the plants that you are putting out are growing fast, so will any weeds, so make sure you get them before they grow and become a nuisance. It is a good idea to give your beds a cover of organic fertilizer too.
Work on Your Vegetable Garden
Work on Your Vegetable GardenIf you haven’t grown vegetables before, this could be the right time to start. After the last frost, you have license to plant pretty much anything in your vegetable plot. In Montgomery County, the last frost date is typically in early May. This is the easiest and most rewarding time of year to grow vegetables, so it is a good time to start if you are a beginner vegetable gardener. Try lettuce, cabbage, beets, broccoli, potatoes, pumpkins, corn and squash to name just a few. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and cucumber can also be planted in spring, but they are best started indoors and then gently moved outside.
Spring gardening is fun. You get to see the fruits of your labors very quickly, and being out working on the garden is much more enjoyable in the warmer weather than it was in winter.
Local Spots That Can Help
Daniel’s Lawn and Garden Center – 2020 Happening List Winner
1457 Sumneytown Pike, Harleysville
610-287-9144
danielslawnandgarden.com
Daniel’s is now fully open, but asks that you practice social distancing and wear a mask. They are still offering delivery. See the site for details and an order form.
Green Acres Nursery & Garden – 2020 Happening List Finalist
270 County Line Road, Colmar
215-822-3334
www.greenacreslive.com
Mulch, stone, soil, lawn care products, trees & shrubs, annuals & perennials – Green Acres Nursery & Garden has it all. To shop with them, take a look at their Facebook page (especially for promotions) and peruse their website. Then, make a call to place your order. You can choose from contactless curbside pickup or delivery.
Holly Days Nursery & Landscaping – 2020 Happening List Finalist
1201 Horsham Road, Ambler
215-283-3228
www.hollydaysnursery.com
If you’d like to shop in person, Holly Days is offering limited hours during this time. They’re open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. They have temporary procedures in place for everyone’s safety, including credit card purchases only, no in-person consultations, no nursery tours, and making every effort to maintain a 10′ distance between staff and customer at all times. To read their full list of COVID-19 procedures, click here. They are highly encouraging curbside pickup and delivery. Place your order online, or call the store.
The Rhoads Garden
570 DeKalb Pike, North Wales
215-699-2207
www.rhoadsgarden.com
The Rhoads Garden offers a full nursery, garden center, floral design and gift shop. During this time, they are open limited hours (call ahead to check) and offering curbside pickup and delivery. Call for details.
Floral & Hardy of Skippack
4007 Skippack Pike, Skippack
610-584-0797
www.floralandhardyofskippack.com
Floral & Hardy is currently closed for in-store shopping, but they are offering driving pickup for a select group of products. This includes spring plants, perennials, and finished spring containers that they design and build. Follow them on Facebook to see new items as they become available. Place your order online or by phone, they will pull your items, and place them on their driveway for pickup the following day.
Wojton’s Nursery
1718 E. Main Street, Collegeville
610-489-4220
www.wojtonsnursery.com
Wojton’s Nursery is closed to the public during this time, but you can call if you’d like to schedule an appointment to see their spring inventory. Otherwise, you can shop items such as annuals, perennials, mulch, soil and bagged items over the phone. Call to place your order and arrange a lot pickup or schedule a delivery.
Behmerwald Nursery
4904 Garges Road, Schwenksville
610-287-0480
www.behmerwald.com
Behmerwald Nursery is closed for in-person shopping, but you can shop online and pickup “curbside.” They’re also offering contactless delivery. Place your order online, pay, and they will contact you with a time to pickup. If you need something quickly, call the store and they will help.
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