Although spring 2014 officially arrives March 20, the real question is: when will your backyard really look and feel like spring?

For now, let’s talk about some things to do in anticipation of spring (i.e. how to keep from going stir crazy in the meantime).

Purchase Seeds

Seeds are wonderful. They represent the future. Inside each seed is a mature plant…a ripe red tomato, a bright yellow flower, a towering shade tree! Get some seed catalogues, buy seeds on line or at your home improvement or garden store. Study the photo that corresponds with the seed. Dream. Soon the day will come to plant your seeds. Be sure to follow planting instructions so you don’t plant seed too early.

Plan Your Garden

Draw a sketch of what your vegetable garden or front yard flower bed will look like this year. Arrange the location of plants, tall in the back, short in the front. What needs more sun, more shade? It’s fun to play around with plant arrangement. Then go to the internet (check out our portfolio) and look at images of plants. Visualize your garden, your flower bed, your summer view. In a few months you’ll be outdoors working, relaxing or both.

If you need help planning a landscape project that requires professional design and execution, please give us a call: 612-483-4628.

Take Care of Your Tools

Now is a great time to bring your garden tools indoors for cleaning and maintenance.

What better way to get a jump on spring than to clean your shovel, hedge sheers, or other hand tools? There are a variety of ways to clean rusty or dirty tools, using white vinegar, linseed oil or rust removing solvents. Next you can sharpen the edges and blades of your garden tools using a file or grinding wheel. The grinding wheel can be a bench top model, or one that fits into an electric drill or dremel tool. You’ll feel great knowing you’ve cleaned and sharpened your tools, and they’ll thank you by making your outdoor work quicker and safer.

Enjoy your days of anticipation and preparation…and I’ll be thinking of you March 20. Or whenever spring arrives!