Garden Chores – Mid March – Zone 5

All seeds grown in the high wind prairie, Midwest, in macro-climate zone 5(ish). Average dewpoint in summer is around 60. Soil is a loamy clay. Although my preference is organic, I have used commercial fertilizers from time to time. Growing days are approximately 135.

Below is a list of garden chores I will be completing this next week.

1. Planting my tomatoes and most of my flowers. I also started a few peas, beans and squash I’d like to pout into pots and get an early harvest.
   
2. The few peppers that haven’t germinated are now out from the tropical seedlings tub and under grow lights. That will often encourage the stragglers to come up.
   
   
3. If your climate is similar to mine, you are probably dealing with melting snow, yet still hard ground. This is the perfect time for your first grab-the-graphing-notebook garden walk. Doesn’t matter if your garden has been planned for month, or you are just starting a new garden, there are often new issues to be noted.
   
   
   In my case, although I *think* I know my garden, every foot of it, I am always off regarding how much of a certain garden goodie fits into that particular area. Ponderings:
   
   -check back with your seed inventory, do you have enough room in the spot you set aside for the planned number of plants? Go through each item.
   
   -take your measuring tape with you. Did the yard take back some garden? Re-measure any areas where you notice changes.
   
   -See where the melting snow or spring rains are pooling water, make a note. Even a basic flat lawn changes over time. I have a slight slope in my front yard that didn’t exist five years ago. The trees are bigger and beginning to encroach on some garden spaces and alter that ground. If there is an area that collects water, you may want to research whether constructing a bioswale, french drain or hugel bed may alleviate any water collection issues.
   
   -The best activity, see what greenery has come up! Crocus? Hyacinth? Iris? Green stems on your roses? Is there green grass coming up through the brown? These next couple weeks will provide some smiles.
   
   
4. Soil testing. I used MySoil Testing last year and was very happy with the process, cost and speed of results.
   
   https://www.mysoiltesting.com/collections/shop/products/mysoil-test-kit?gclid=CjwKCAjwq-WgBhBMEiwAzKSH6O86XmZe_iBsOZbjxEKELyYSFLv69c710dUXPJfRkI4t0rXgjmAOSRoCy-4QAvD_BwE
   
   
5. Do an inventory of your garden tools and get them prepped. I purchased some new garden knives (paring and a bill-hook machete) last year. You can buy a knife sharpening kit, or go old school and just sharpen most metal tools with some thick folded foil (with safety gloves, of course). Beat the rush if you need to buy anything garden related. Tie tape for tomatoes? Supports? Soil amendments? Grow bags? Larger cups and containers for up-potting? I just picked up some fake snakes to help repel birds off my berries.
   
   
6. Check your outside spigots and see how they came through the winter. What about anything else left outside? Stakes, tools, mulch?
   
   
7. If you use lawn care services, check prices and make sure the service meets the current needs of your lawn. The climate has been unusual the past few years and our lawn has changed.
   
   If you do your own lawn care, service the mower. Change the oil, blades and air filter if needed. Get it fueled up if gas powered and check your cords or batteries if electric.
   
   
8. This year I need to touch up the coating on the patio table. Good time to research any garden chores than might need some level of expertise.
   
9. Find a new harvest basket. Just because.
   
   
   Feel free to let us know below what you do in mid March for your midwestern garden chores!