Your Garden Checklist for Spring
It’s finally happening. The days are getting just a teensy bit longer, the sun feels almost warm again (somehow, we randomly hit 80 last week), and the birds are chirping a little louder. You know what that means… spring is knocking at the door, and it’s almost GARDEN TIME!
Can I just say there’s nothing better than growing your own food? With the grocery store prices these days (seriously, did I dream that $9 carton of eggs?), knowing I can walk right outside and grab lettuce, tomatoes, or cucumbers makes my heart (and my wallet) so happy.
If you’re feeling the itch to garden but don’t know where to start, don’t stress. I promise it’s not as complicated as it might seem. When I first started, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. I overwatered, underwatered, and had no idea when to plant, what, when, or where. The good news? It’s really not that hard once you know the basics. A little prep goes a long way, and now’s the perfect time to get started since we’re smack dab in the middle of March.
So, let’s walk through the first step: how to prep your garden soil for spring together! By the end of this post, you’ll have a garden checklist for spring that’s simple, straightforward, and most importantly doable.
Ready? Let’s dig in (pun intended)!
Step 1: Tidy Up Those Garden Beds
Okay, step one—let’s get those garden beds cleaned up. Think of this as resetting your garden for the season ahead.
If your garden is anything like mine after winter, it’s a hot mess out there. Dead leaves, broken branches, a few leftover plant remnants from last year, and maybe even some random kid toys sprinkled in for good measure. (Don’t tell me I’m the only one who’s fished a Tonka truck out of the raised beds?)
Here’s the plan:
Get rid of the debris. Rake out any leaves, twigs, and old plant material still hanging out in your garden beds or pathways. Compost anything that’s not diseased so it can turn into rich soil for later.
Pull those weeds. I know pulling weeds isn’t on anyone’s “fun” list, but getting them out now—roots and all—will save you so much frustration later. Don’t be shy about recruiting the kids for help. Mine LOVE digging in the dirt. (Although if we’re being honest, they’re just as likely to make mud pies as they are to help weed… but hey, I’ll take it.)
Turn the soil. If your soil feels compacted from snow or rain, grab a hoe, rake, or small tiller and loosen it up. This will help air and water move through it more easily when it’s time to plant.
If you don’t have designated garden beds yet, no worries! You can start with raised beds (perfect for small spaces) or go straight into the ground if you have a bigger area to work with. Raised beds warm up faster in the spring, which means you can plant a little earlier. Digging in the ground takes a bit more effort, but it gives your plants more room to grow. Either way works, so do whatever fits your family and space best!
Step 2: Giving Your Soil Some Love
Now that your beds are cleared out, it’s time to focus on your soil. Healthy soil means happy plants, and this step really sets the foundation for your entire garden.
Here’s what I like to do:
1. Test Your Soil’s pH Level
Grab an inexpensive soil testing kit from your local garden store (or Amazon if you don’t want to pack up the kids and leave the house) and see where your soil stands. Testing your soil’s pH will tell you if your dirt is too acidic, too alkaline, or just right. Most veggies like things in the 6.0–7.0 range, which is slightly acidic to neutral.
If your soil is too acidic, you can add a sprinkle of lime to balance it out. Too alkaline? Work in some sulfur. Knowing your soil’s pH is one of those nerdy gardening things that pays off big when you’re harvesting bushels of cucumbers later.
2. Add Compost
If you’ve been composting your kitchen scraps and yard clippings, this is where all that effort pays off! Compost is like a vitamin smoothie for your soil—packed with nutrients your plants need to thrive.
Layer about 2-3 inches of compost over your beds and work it into the topsoil with a garden fork. This will add nutrients, improve the soil structure, and help with water retention—all good things for growing strong, healthy plants.
Don’t have a compost pile? You can pick up bagged compost from your local nursery or garden store to get started.
3. ADD ORGANIC FERTILIZIER
Okay, I’m about to get real homesteader mom on you. If you’ve got chickens, goats, pigs, or cows hanging around, their ahem poop is basically garden gold. Just make sure it’s been aged or composted properly so it won’t burn your plants (trust me, I learned that the hard way).
If you don’t have animals, store-bought manure works well, too. We’re just aiming to add all the good stuff back into the soil before planting.
Step 3: Seeds, Starters, and What to Plant Right Now
What to Plant in Early Spring
Let’s get down to the fun part—deciding what to plant!
Some veggies actually love those cooler, early spring days:
Radishes: They grow crazy fast and are perfect for impatient gardeners (like me).
Carrots: A little slower to germinate, but worth it when your kids pull up their first “baby” carrot with the greens still attached.
Spinach and Lettuce: These thrive when the weather is still cool, and you’ll have fresh greens in a matter of weeks.
Peas: The ultimate kid-friendly veggie to grow. My kids love picking peas straight off the vine and snacking on them while “helping.”
Seed Starting Indoors
If you’re planning to grow warm-weather crops like tomatoes, peppers, or eggplants, now’s the time to start those seeds indoors. You’ll need seed trays (even old egg cartons work), some fluffy seed-starting soil, and a sunny windowsill or grow lights.
Don’t worry if you’re short on time—I’ve definitely snagged starter plants from my local organic nursery when life got too busy to start my own seeds. And they still grew beautifully.
Quick Tip: Organizing Your Seeds
Okay, let me admit something. I’ve definitely had years where my seed packets lived in a shoebox stashed on a shelf. Overflowing, messy, and not even vaguely organized. If that’s you right now (raises hand), don’t stress.
Lately, I’ve been sorting my seeds into a little plastic storage bin with dividers (like you’d use for crafts or photos). It’s so much easier to find what I need in the middle of planting, and it looks a whole lot prettier, too.
Step 4: Don’t forget the Mulch
Let’s not skip this step—it’s worth the few extra minutes! Once your seeds or starter plants are in the ground, adding a layer of mulch around them can make a HUGE difference:
It helps keep the weeds under control (because who has time to weed daily? Not me).
It locks in moisture so your plants don’t dry out between waterings.
For mulch, straw is my go-to since it’s light and easy to work with. You could also use shredded leaves or grass clippings if that’s what you have on hand. Just make sure the layer isn’t too thick (2–3 inches is perfect).
Step 5: Free Tool for Super Simple Garden Planning
True story: I used to wing my garden planting dates. I’d just guess when to throw seeds in the ground and hope for the best. Not ideal.
These days, I use a free online garden planning tool that’s been a total lifesaver:
Plug in your location, and it tells you exactly when to plant each crop based on your local frost dates.
It shows you how to map out your garden space for the best results.
AND it creates a handy task list for each week, so you never forget what needs doing.
Honestly, it’s worth spending a few minutes playing around with. I highly recommend giving Seedtime a try!
Step 6: Give Those Perennials Some Love
If you have anything from last year growing (like strawberries, asparagus, or herbs), this is a great time to check on them.
Late winter to early spring is the perfect time to prune:
Trim off dead branches.
Shape your plants so they grow better.
Help them focus their energy on producing fruit or flowers rather than wasted growth.
I hope your garden prep is off to a great start! Whether you’re planting for the first time or you’ve been doing this for years, I hope this step-by-step guide helps make the process simple and stress-free.
And remember, perfect isn’t the goal here. Some years my garden looked like a Pinterest board. Other years, it’s… well, let’s call it “a learning experience.” Either way, we’re growing food for our families, and that’s something to feel proud of.
Looking for more gardening and homesteading tips? Check out all my blogs HERE. Until next time, happy planting, and cheers to homemade, homegrown goodness!
