What You Should and Shouldn’t Be Doing in Your Garden Right Now During Spring

Spring is a working season for us here at Garden Gate Farms. It’s when the garden starts moving again, but it’s also when small decisions matter more than people realize. A lot of issues I see later in the year usually trace back to what was done too early or done without checking first.

Here’s how I approach this time of year on the farm.

What to do now

Check your soil before planting. If it still feels heavy or holds too much water, leave it for a few more days. Planting into wet soil limits root development and can lead to rot, especially for lavender and other plants that need good drainage. Once the soil breaks apart easily and doesn’t stay soggy, you can start.

Know your frost date. It’s important not to plant your plants until after your frost date. Your frost date can be found online according to where you live. You can check it here www.almanac.com/gardening/frostdates

Give plants more space than you think they need. It may look empty at first, but proper spacing improves airflow and reduces problems later in the season. Lavender grows better with room around it and steady exposure to sunlight.

Keep pruning simple. Remove dry or damaged parts but leave healthy growth alone. Early leaves help the plant build strength, so cutting too much slows it down.

Water based on the condition of the soil. Some weeks bring enough rain, others dry out quickly. Check before watering instead of following a set routine.

If you have animals near your garden, watch how they move around new plants. Fresh growth can attract them, and young plants don’t recover as easily from damage.

What to avoid

Hold back on heavy fertilizing. Plants don’t need strong feeding as soon as they come out of dormancy. Too much nitrogen early on leads to fast, weak growth that doesn’t hold up well over time. A light layer of compost is usually enough to support steady development.

Avoid transplanting unless it’s necessary. Moving plants while they’re just starting to grow puts stress on their roots. It’s better to let them establish first before making changes.

And don’t rely on one warm stretch of weather. Spring temperatures can still drop unexpectedly. Planting too early can set you back if conditions change.

A garden settles in better when the early work is done with care. Soil, spacing, and timing carry more weight than most people expect. Get that right, and the rest of the season tends to follow without much correction. That’s how we keep things steady on the farm, and it’s what I’d suggest for any garden.