Your Comprehensive Guide to Spring Planting: Expert Tips & Techniques

The first signs of Spring bring anticipation, especially for gardeners. Imagine fresh vegetables, vibrant flower beds, and the hum of pollinators filling your outdoor garden. It's time to plan and prepare. This Spring planting guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of preparing your garden and soil for the Spring planting season. We'll cover everything from selecting the right plants and seeds to ensuring optimal soil conditions.

Decipher Your Garden's Climate and Timing

Before grabbing your shovel, you need to gauge the environment around your garden. First, determine your USDA Hardiness Zone; this reveals the average winter temperatures in your region, helping you choose plants adapted to your climate.

Don't forget about frost dates. Knowing when the last frost typically occurs is necessary for timing your planting of sensitive crops. Finally, evaluate your garden space: are there sunny spots, shady corners, or a mix? Is your soil sandy and quick-draining, or dense clay?

Keep in mind that this is just a starting point, as additional factors like microclimates and elevation can affect planting conditions.

Design Your Dream Garden

Are you looking to create a vegetable patch or a vibrant pollinator garden with wildflowers? Why not have a combination of both? When planning your garden, think about the color combinations you want. Remember to consider plant heights and textures to add depth and visual interest. Additionally, use succession planting to extend your harvest throughout the entire season by staggering the planting of different crops.

Selecting Suitable Plants and Seeds

Spring offers a fantastic mix of cool-season and warm-season crops. Leafy greens, radishes, and onions thrive in the cooler temperatures of early Spring. Once the soil warms, it's time for tomatoes, peppers, and other summer staples.

Look for plants and seeds labeled as appropriate for your USDA Hardiness Zone. These varieties are more likely to thrive in your specific conditions. Consider factors such as sun exposure, soil pH, and moisture requirements when selecting plants.

Whether you prefer flowers, vegetables, or both, make sure to choose plants that perform well in your area. This can increase your chances of growing a bountiful Spring garden.

When buying seeds, prioritize local nurseries and reputable online seed companies for the best quality and selection.

Tips for Preparing Soil and Garden

Proper soil preparation contributes to the health and productivity of your plants. As part of our Spring planting guide, we'll give you tips for preparing your soil and garden.

Start by removing any weeds, rocks, or debris from the planting area. Clearing the space will provide a clean canvas for your plants to thrive. Next, conduct a soil test to assess its pH levels and nutrient content.

To improve the soil structure and fertility, add organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure. This will enhance the soil's ability to retain moisture and provide essential nutrients to your plants. Work the amendments into the soil using a garden fork or tiller, ensuring they are evenly distributed.

Lastly, consider adding a layer of mulch to suppress weeds, retain moisture, and regulate soil temperature. These steps will help you create an ideal growing environment for your plants.

Tools You Need for Spring Gardening

Start with the must-haves: a sturdy trowel for planting, sharp pruners for tidying, comfortable gloves, and a reliable watering can. For soil preparation, consider investing in a source of compost. They come from decomposing organic matter like yard waste and kitchen scraps.

Adding compost to your soil improves its texture, boosts nutrients, and attracts beneficial microorganisms. This leads to healthier and more productive plants. You can purchase compost or start your compost pile.

If you're starting seeds indoors, you'll need trays, special soil mixes, and a grow light. Seed trays provide individual compartments for each seedling, minimizing root disturbance during transplanting.

Special seed-starting soil mixes are finer and better-draining than regular potting soil, creating an ideal environment for germination. You might need to grow lights if your home doesn't have an abundance of bright, natural light, ensuring strong, healthy seedlings.

Larger gardens might benefit from a tiller or broadfork for loosening soil, or trellises to support climbing plants. A tiller uses rotating blades to break up compacted soil and mix in amendments like compost. While effective, tillers can disrupt beneficial soil structure.

On the other hand, a broadfork is a more gentle option, using tines to aerate and loosen the soil while preserving its natural layers. Finally, trellises provide essential support for climbing plants like beans, cucumbers, and peas. They maximize vertical space, increase air circulation, and make harvesting easier.

Seed Starting and Transplanting Techniques

You can start by selecting high-quality seeds from reputable sources. Follow the sowing instructions on the seed packets, providing the appropriate conditions of light, temperature, and moisture.

For a successful germination, maintain consistent moisture levels and provide adequate warmth for the seeds. It's also beneficial to use a seedling heat mat to facilitate germination in cooler climates.

Once the seedlings have developed a few sets of true leaves, they are ready for transplantation. Harden off the seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over several days.

When transplanting, handle the seedlings gently, taking care not to damage the delicate roots. Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball and place the seedling, backfilling with soil. Finally, water the seeds to help settle the soil around the roots.

Temperature and Soil Considerations

Monitor soil temperatures before planting. Cold soil can hinder germination and stunt plant growth. Plant species have specific temperature requirements, so refer to seed packets or plant labels for guidance. If soil temperatures are too low, use protective measures like row covers or cold frames to create a warmer microclimate for your plants.

Additionally, pay attention to the moisture content of your soil. Overly wet soil can lead to rot and disease, while excessively dry soil can stress and starve your plants. Aim for moist, well-draining soil that retains enough moisture to support healthy root development.

Regularly check the soil moisture by inserting your finger a few inches into the ground. If it feels dry, it's time to water. Applying a layer of mulch around your plants will help regulate soil temperature and conserve moisture.

Make Your Spring Garden Beautiful By Planting Surplus Plants

Surplus plants refer to varieties that offer additional benefits beyond their primary purpose. For example, planting Peach Trees provides delicious fruit and adds visual appeal to your garden with their blossoms. Milkweed plants attract pollinators like butterflies and serve as a valuable addition to any garden that supports local ecosystems.

Partridgeberry is an evergreen groundcover with dainty red berries. Ajuga brightens up your garden's tricky shaded areas with its colorful foliage. For a touch of indoor greenery, Terrarium Kits lets you create a self-contained miniature ecosystem.

Blood Root brings a touch of native woodland charm with its delicate Spring wildflowers. On the other hand, Vinca Minor thrives in shade, offering a lush, evergreen carpet for underutilized areas.

Finally, Coneflower, Pink Primrose, Yellow Primrose, Blanket Flower, Trumpet Vine, Black Eyed Susan, and Maximillian Sunflower entice pollinators with long-lasting blooms. They also add vibrant color throughout your garden. By adding surplus plants to your Spring garden, you'll cultivate a beautiful, diverse, and resilient space that benefits the surrounding ecosystem.

Step-by-Step Spring Planting Guide

  1. Evaluate your soil quality and pH levels, actively amending it with organic matter to improve structure and fertility.
  2. Choose plant varieties actively suited to your climate and growing conditions. Consider including surplus plants for added benefits.
  3. Follow proper planting techniques for seeds, seedlings, and transplants. Make sure each plant actively receives adequate space and sunlight for optimal growth.
  4. Water your plants regularly and weed the garden beds. Then monitor your garden for pests and diseases. Stay attentive to your plants' needs to promote healthy growth.

Spring Planting Techniques

Companion Planting

Companion planting involves planting different species of plants together that benefit each other through mutual support, pest control, or improving soil health. For instance, planting marigolds alongside vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants can naturally repel pests such as aphids and nematodes. Meanwhile, the vegetables act as a natural support for the tall-growing marigold plants.

Vertical Gardening Techniques

Vertical gardening involves growing plants vertically rather than horizontally to maximize space and increase yields. Trellises, stakes, and cages can support climbing plants such as beans, peas, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Hanging baskets are effective for growing trailing plants such as strawberries, herbs, and cherry tomatoes. Vertical gardening techniques can also be applied to indoor gardening, particularly in smaller spaces and apartments.

Pest and Disease Control

Preventing pests and diseases from attacking plants ensures a healthy, happy garden and saves time and effort in the long run. Various natural pesticides and fungicides can be used to combat problems such as aphids, snails, slugs, and mildew. For example, spraying a mixture of soap and water on plants acts as a natural insecticide. Neem oil, derived from the seeds of the neem tree, is a natural pesticide suitable for a wide range of pests.

Harvesting and Storage

Once the time comes to harvest your plants, store them to extend their lifespan and ensure the freshest taste possible. Different vegetables have varying requirements for optimal storage conditions. For example, leafy greens such as lettuce and spinach should be stored in the refrigerator crisper drawer, while onions, garlic, and potatoes prefer cool, dark, and dry storage. Properly storing harvested vegetables can help you enjoy your garden produce for much longer.

Garden Maintenance Throughout the Season

A bountiful garden requires routine maintenance throughout the growing season. You need to water, weed, prune, and deadhead flowers regularly. Harvesting helps leaves or fruits from rotting on the plants. Remember, you can maintain a healthy garden soil ecosystem by adding compost, crop rotation, and cover cropping.

Follow Your Spring Planting Checklist

By implementing tips from our Spring planting guide, you can provide your family with fresh produce and vibrant flowers. Don't hesitate to experiment with companion planting, vertical gardening, and other techniques to maximize your outdoor and indoor space. When those first harvests arrive, you'll get to enjoy the fruit of your labor.

Gardening is an art in itself, and with a little bit of patience and dedication, you can create a thriving garden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I determine my USDA Hardiness Zone?

You can use online tools or consult a Hardiness Zone map based on your location.

What are the best plants to grow in the Spring?

Some popular Spring plants include leafy greens, radishes, onions, tomatoes, peppers, and other summer staples. Choose plants that thrive in your specific climate and growing conditions.

How do I prepare my soil for Spring planting?

Prepare your soil for Spring planting by removing weeds and debris, conducting a soil test, and adding organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure to improve soil structure and fertility.

What tools do I need for Spring gardening?

You'll need a sturdy trowel, sharp pruners, comfortable gloves, a watering can, and, for larger gardens, a tiller or broadfork, and trellises for climbing plants.

How do I start seeds and transplant seedlings?

Follow the instructions on the seed packets, and provide the light, temperature, and moisture needed for your seeds. When transplanting, handle seedlings gently, dig a hole larger than the root ball, and water well after planting.

Peach Fruit Tree - TN Nursery

Peach Fruit Tree

Peach trees are known for their fragrant pink blossoms in spring. They produce sweet and juicy, round or slightly flattened, fuzzy-skinned fruit in various colors, such as yellow or white. Incorporating these into landscaping offers many benefits beyond their produce. They bring beauty, seasonal interest, edible yields, contributions to biodiversity, and a touch of nostalgia to outdoor spaces. A Peach Fruit Tree is a colorful and aromatic plant that offers several benefits to your land. It can benefit your neighbors and the local wildlife months after planting. Add Color to Your Home With The Peach Fruit Tree The produce helps transform your land into a sea of orange or some variation relatively quickly. They come from will create pink flowers that add even more variety wherever they are planted. One of the primary benefits of buying this type is that it will create seeds on its own after reaching maturity. However, it is essential to note that reaching that stage of life can take two or three years. Of course, your patience will be well rewarded as a single plant can turn into multiple ones, which will help maximize the value you get for your money. Enjoy The Amazing Aroma Of Peach Fruit Trees Planting any type that bears fruit can create a fragrant smell that everyone can enjoy outside. Furthermore, the fact that you have them on your property that bear anything edible will likely improve its overall market value. In most cases, your neighbors will also see the value of their properties increase. Animals Love The Peach Fruit Tree Peach Fruit Tree generally serves as shelter or food for various insects and animals. Although you will likely see birds, pollinators, and other creatures on your property, they will likely be able to do minor damage. This is because this item is toxic to many different types of animals, which means you can enjoy nature without worrying about replacing what you took so long to cultivate for yourself.

Regular price From $32.99
Regular price Sale price From $32.99
Unit price  per 
Terrarium Plants - TN Nursery

Terrarium Plant Kit

Our Terrarium Plant Kit has a large assortment of fresh turkey tails, rocks, lichens, mosses, and plants you can not buy elsewhere online, and we guarantee it. These hills and mountains are a rich land full of exotic things you can not go out and buy, like lichens, mosses, fossils, odd rocks, and things that Bailey knows would make an excellent addition to any terrarium. She collects each kit, especially for the order placed with items that will do well even in ecospheres. These are terrarium plants only, the kit does not come with the container Jars. Often, it contains lichens, fresh live moss, turkey tail, rocks, Mitchella repens, and running cedar. The items are wild-collected by Bailey, and she takes great pride in her horticultural skills, containing only the highest-quality plants for the kit. Our kit is the price of one item in stores, and we guarantee you won't like it; you will love it! What's impressive is that Bailey chooses each kit by hand. Bailey studied plant science in school and knows what's hot and what's not! We've never had one complaint about our terrarium plant packages other than someone unable to order ten at a time. Container Not Included Plants Only Please do not order over five kits because she works in the warehouse and spends her evenings and weekends collecting rare treasures for these kits. We always have limited quantities of these plants. It is plants only, no container. In today's fast-paced and urbanized world, finding tranquility and peaceful relaxation with nature can be challenging. However, TN Nursery's terrarium garden kit offers a unique opportunity to create a serene oasis right at home, thanks to the assortment of freshly dug plants from the hills of Tennessee. Investing in terraria can bring ty of the outdoor world into your home. Each is designed to be a miniature world you can prune, hone, and shape into whatever you want. After filling the container with the soil, rocks, and moss included in your set, you can add the greenery and ornamental items you love. Over time, you can gradually change your selections to create a more unique space. Create Your Ecosystem With Terrarium Plant Kit This type of set is designed to be its ecosystem. The glass has a sealed cover, so water and air remain inside the container. When you buy it, you can create it so it is completely sealed or open to the elements. Popular Terrarium Plant Kit Options Many different items can be placed in it. Often, people like to include moss, ferns, baby tears, bark, rocks, pinecones, ground pine, and turkey berries. In addition to adding unique greenery, you can customize your glass container by picking specific stones, statues, and decorative items to place inside. For example, many people like to put amethyst, turquoise, and other stones into their own. Place Your Terrarium Plant Kit Container Indoors and Outdoors When most people think of Terrarium Plant Kit, they think of a large glass jar on their coffee table. While these containers are typically placed inside your house, you don’t have to limit yourself to an interior location. If you put the container outside, you can leave it open to the elements so it doesn’t overheat during the day. Your Terrarium Plant Kit can be unique. While specific decorative items, rocks, soil, and greenery are included in each set, you are not required to use the items your set comes with. Instead, you can get creative. Many people customize them by using items they find on their daily walks. If you are hiking in the woods, you can pick up unique types of moss or precious stones. Once you find a particular item you want to include, you can always rearrange your container to place it inside.

Regular price $29.99
Regular price Sale price $29.99
Unit price  per 
Trumpet Vine - TN Nursery

Trumpet Vine

Trumpet Vine is a vigorous, deciduous woody plant known for its showy, trumpet-shaped orange or red flowers and ability to attract hummingbirds and butterflies. It is a popular choice for covering fences and trellises. When integrated into landscaping projects, it offers many benefits, such as enhancing outdoor spaces' visual allure, ecological diversity, and functionality. This deciduous woody plant presents unique qualities that contribute to various dimensions of landscape design. One of the standout benefits of using it in landscaping is its striking floral display. They have their place in any yard, and some produce stunning flowers that are pretty hard to ignore. Look at the trumpet vine if you've been looking for the right one. Also known as the creeper, these gorgeous plants have a wide range of purposes some may forget. Here's what these unique plants have to offer that you'll be sure to love. The Spectacular Flower Display Of Trumpet Vine They produce a fabulous flower show that begins in May and lasts until about August. As the name suggests, these flowers burst out of the foliage and announce themselves with a dazzling red-orange display that coats almost all of them. No matter where they're growing, they will catch your attention once they're ready to make themselves known. Trumpet Vines Offer Vertical Decor  Finding the right plants for vertical decor can be difficult, and not everyone wants to fill their spaces with hanging plants or pots attached to the wall. This is where they come in. These gorgeous flowers easily climb up vertical decor-like trellises to provide the coverage you're looking for. They are highly durable and will increase, making them the perfect plan for those looking to cover specific areas fast without worrying too much about making mistakes that put them at risk.  Trumpet Vines Offers Erosion Control Planting Trumpet Vine can be an excellent way to reduce soil erosion, especially in sloped areas where you're concerned about the stability of particular objects or other plants. They create networks of roots that keep soil in place. They also offer different benefits for your yard, like attracting essential pollinators such as birds and butterflies and acting as a space where ants can build a habitat. If you want a plant that provides a host of benefits to the surrounding area, consider this one.

Regular price From $7.98
Regular price Sale price From $7.98
Unit price  per 
Maxmilian sunflower - TN Nursery

Maximilian Sunflower

Maximilian Sunflower is a tall, native perennial with bright yellow, daisy-like flowers and narrow leaves. It often forms impressive colonies and attracts pollinators in late summer and fall. Sunflowers are remarkable and versatile plants that offer a range of benefits when used in landscaping. Their vibrant color and adaptability can add aesthetic value and functional advantages to various outdoor spaces. The Maximilian Sunflower is a radiant North American perennial known for its impressive stature and vibrant yellow hue. With a propensity to form dense colonies, these stunningly dynamic plants provide rich visual appeal to any landscape or garden. Their sublime and livening presence innately offers rich enchantment for the gaze of onlookers. Maximilian Sunflower perennial grows to a height of 3-10 feet with slender stalks and narrow leaves with bright yellow flowers that are excellent for attracting pollinators. These perennials bloom after most other perennials stop blooming later in summer into early fall. The Latin name for this vibrant plant is helianthus maximiliani. Maximillian Sunflower Has Vibrant Yellow Blooms  The blooms are brilliant yellow and have many petals alongside a disk-shaped cone. These plants are native to the United States in many regions, and they are so hardy that they can grow even near roadways, prairies, and open fields. Maximilian Sunflowers are sustainability-friendly and promote birds, bees, and monarchs as open pollinators. They are also super low maintenance and seldom need fertilizers or water in areas with adequate rainfall. It's a super hardy wildflower perennial with rough edges, displaying its durability and simplicity of appearance as well. It can tolerate drought conditions and open sunlight. Birds and insects feast on the seeds inside the plant's conehead, making it an excellent source of a good supply without messy bird feeders or buying bird seeds. It is highly sustainable, hardy, and thrives in various soil types, making it one of the best, most vibrant, and hardiest complete sun plants. TN Nursery offers blooming age, bare root perennials at a fraction of the cost of potted plants. Why buy a container and a handful of soil and pay three prices when you can buy the plant bareroot and have the same thing shipped to your door at a fraction of the cost? Maximilian Sunflower Gets Very Tall These gorgeous natural creations intrinsically reach toward the sky. Standing erect, they often get a looming height of around 10 feet. The towering beauties possess uniquely slender stems decorated with long lance-shaped leaves. Underneath the flower head, dark green phyllaries stick straight out before subtly curling at the tips. The bright golden petals delightfully evoke luminescent rays of sunshine. A jagged alternation pattern creates intricate layers of pleasing asymmetry. Their wispiness embodies an illustrative quality that summons a beatific repose. This flower’s center is packed with circular bronze florets. These discs often showcase a fractalized pattern that is simply mesmerizing. Meanwhile, the circumference is embedded with sleek light-yellow florets that create a glorious juxtaposition. Their relatively late blooming period is pleasant in summer and early fall. Thus, they can become the cornerstone of any idyllic scenery. Unlike many other growths from the same genus, these sunflower stems can support several clusters. As a result, these durable plants make for a divine ornamental selection with downright transformative effects on the landscape. Wildlife also likes this flower. Its abundance of nectar is considered irresistible to local pollinators, so it is often associated with a thriving ecosystem of bees and butterflies. Later in their flowering stage, the seeds occasionally attract a diverse ornithological scene, much to the delight of birdwatchers. Maximilian Sunflower derives its namesake from Prince of Wied-Neuwied. The famed German explorer first came upon these magnificent flowers during his North American expeditions, and they were dubbed Helianthus in his honor. It is a suitable title, especially since any outdoor environment is lucky to be bestowed with these golden gems. They are a native perennial coveted for their height, versatility, and blazing yellow hues. It's easy to grow even if you have little gardening experience. The following post concerns this gorgeous bloomer and how it can add life to your outdoor spaces. What Does It Look Like?  People often hear "sunflower" and think of a bloom with a black central disc surrounded by blazing yellow petals. And while they share some characteristics with common sunflowers, there are some distinctions. For instance, their central disc is smaller than a typical sunflower and does not contain blackened florets.  Instead, the hub of the Maximilian Sunflower is populated by clusters of tiny, yellow florets that provide sustenance for pollinators. So, their entire bloom is varying shades of yellow. One thing they share with its more common sunflower relative is height. They can grow to a height of 10 feet!  The flower is supported by a long, narrow stem covered in coarse hairs. Alternate, blade-shaped leaves adorn the towering stem, growing as high as just under the flower bloom. The proximity of the green leaves to the actual flower provides a stunning juxtaposition of natural color evocative of the sun setting over verdant hills. Their conehead is filled with intricate patterns of bronze to bright yellow florets. The mesmerizing structure of these tiny florets belies the mostly uniform layers of petals that envelope them. The florets produce seeds that are a food source for various bird species.  It is also unique among its genus because one stem can support a cluster of flowers instead of just one. Naturally, they grow dense and can colonize very quickly if allowed to. This makes them a good option for filling a large area with golden hues. However, if you have limited space to work with, the multi-flower growths of the slender stems still allow for a radiant burst of color in tight spaces.  Blooms of them are typically 5 inches in diameter, with a central disc spreading out to about one inch in diameter.  What Are the Benefits of Them?  They can add a gilded, regal quality to your outdoor spaces, but that's not all they bring. Take a look at the following reasons why people love to grow these plants:  They Support the Local Nectar Bee Population - Bees flock to them because they produce nectar. Moreover, it produces nectar at a time of year when other perennials become barren. So, they are an excellent choice to keep bees returning to your garden late into the season. As if the inherent chroma of the flower weren't enough, it also attracts colorful, nectar butterflies.  Late Blooming- Many add them to their gardens because they bloom into late fall. This unique blooming span makes this flower ideal for maintaining color throughout the year.  Very Tolerant—While it prefers dry to moist soils, it can tolerate many conditions. It's not uncommon for this plant to thrive in loamy or limestone-rich soil. Great for Bird Lovers- The fertile florets of the flower produce seeds late into the season, which attract a wide variety of birds. The flower is a no-brainer if you are an avid bird-watcher or enjoy providing a haven for avian wildlife.  If you need to become more familiar with this perennial, you may have questions about how to grow and maintain them. So, let's address some common questions about this rewarding flower.  Do They Come Back Every Year?  Another way it distinguishes itself from other sunflowers is that it's a perennial—many sunflowers are annuals. It is supported by a hardy rhizome that will produce new growth yearly.  How Tall Do Maximilian Sunflowers Get? They are known for their stature, reaching up to 10 feet. Its blooms stretch more or less upright toward the sky, giving them a stately appeal that contrasts nicely with flowers and plants that grow closer to the ground.  How Do You Plant them?  It needs between 6 and 8 hours of sun per day. Sow the seeds directly into the soil at about half an inch depth. Seeds should be planted in spring. Be sure to leave between 18 and 24 inches between each plant to allow the root system to grow correctly and avoid crowding. Do You Need to Deadhead Them?  Deadheading will keep blooms coming back and keep the plant looking clean. It would help if you deadheaded dying flowers as they appear. Deadheading will also stymie seed production to avoid spreading to other parts of your garden.  Should You Support the Stem of the Maximilian Sunflower They can grow to be very tall. Their stems are naturally skinny, so you may need to support them with stakes. If you see the plant start to bend or sag, or if you live in an area that experiences high winds, helping the stems with stakes may be necessary. Overly rich soil may also promote hardy blooms with weak stems. If you notice that yours are arching before they bloom, you may need to amend the soil to make it less fertile.  TN Nursery is your source for many native species, from lush ferns to pollinating perennials. We ship nursery-nourished plants that can go straight into your soil right to your door. There is no hassle, and with our one-year guarantee, there is no risk. Place an order for your favorite plants today!

Regular price From $7.99
Regular price Sale price From $7.99
Unit price  per