Spring is in full swing and the Valley is greening up quite nicely. It’s becoming easier to tell what needs to be done in the garden because it all starts staring us in the face. The weeds are sprouting up like there’s no tomorrow, and many flowers and vegetables are demanding attention. So it’s time to weed and feed! Keep reading for more gardening tips for May.

Spring Cleanup

The spring flowers, such as daffodils and tulips, are beginning to die down. You can cut off the dead blossoms, but be sure not to cut the leaves until they have turned yellow. This will allow the plant to collect sunshine and nutrients for next year’s blossoms. As your perennials start to come up, be sure to divide up the clumps and re-plant or share some with a friend. Also, if you want to add any new plants to your garden, now is a great time to visit a nursery while the picking is prime.

In the Vegetable Garden

For your vegetable garden, it might be time to start thinning your winter crops (such as carrots and lettuce) depending on how big they are. Keep earthing-up your potatoes us they grow taller. You can also start hardening off your summer plants (tomatoes, peppers, etc) to prepare them for planting. If you decide to plant them this month, just be prepared to cover them on cold nights. This area historically has late freezes, and some say to wait until Carson Valley Days to plant your tomatoes (2nd weekend in June). Sometimes the excitement of spring takes over and we just can’t wait that long!

I hope these gardening tips for May help you check some things off your to-do list. In addition, for more information on what you can do in the garden in May, check out this article from The Spruce. For additional Northern Nevada planting resources, be sure to check out some of our local nurseries. One of my favorites is Greenhouse Garden Center in Carson City.

P.S. Did you miss April’s gardening tips? Click here and get caught up.

Spring is finally here, and if the date on the calendar isn’t enough to prove it, the gorgeous weather we’ve been having certainly is! Soon the trees will be blossoming and the daffodils will be making their presence known. Gardening is a great way to get some fresh air, sunshine, and exercise all at the same time. So what do you say? Grab your garden gloves and your sunhat and let’s get to it with the following gardening tips for April!

Fertilize and Amend

For starters, spring is a time of immense growth for your plants. So it’s important to make sure you fertilize your lawn, shrubs, and trees. You can also aerate or de-thatch your lawn and re-seed to fill in any sparse patches. Not up for this challenge? Don’t worry, I have a great landscape professional I can recommend—just give me a call!

If you haven’t done so already, start preparing your vegetable garden for planting. Amend the soil with a good compost and making sure the area is free of weeds (get to them while they’re still small and before they go to seed!).

Planting

Once your beds are ready, start planting! Cool season crops, such as lettuce, peas, carrots, radishes, and green onions can go straight in the ground.

With the temperatures rising, the soil should now be workable, making April the perfect time to plant new trees and shrubs as well. This way you’ll get the best selection at the local nurseries and your plants will have time to develop their roots early and really settle into Spring. Happy gardening!

I hope these gardening tips for April help you check some things off your to-do list. In addition, for more information on what you can do in the garden in April, check out this article from The Spruce. For additional Northern Nevada planting resources, be sure to check out some of our local nurseries. One of my favorites is Greenhouse Garden Center in Carson City.

P.S. Did you miss March’s gardening tips? Click here to get caught up.