WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) – With spring right around the corner, many will find themselves tending to their gardens again.
Owner of Smith’s Gardentown, Michael Fiore, said it starts with prepping your soil. He emphasized that plants will do much better when the soil is prepared, and recommends adding compost, tilling it in, and making sure the soil is nice, rich, and loose to have healthy spring plants.
“Now, since we start the plants and start the seeds in a warm greenhouse where the soil is already warm, they’re already ready by March and already in bloom. So, you will enjoy months and months and months of bloom instead of having to wait until the middle of summer to have something in bloom if you plant from seed,” said emeritus owner Katherine Smith.
Fiore said now is the best time to start seeding trees and shrubs, perennials, and tolerant annuals. He said most people believe they have to wait until after Easter to plant, but many can be planted now.
Smith also recommended some tips to protect your garden from fluctuating weather.
“With the temperatures going up and down right now, just make sure that you are watering your plants before they get really cold. If you do have cold-sensitive plants, just be prepared to bring them indoors or to cover them with a frost cloth,” Fiore said.
He said that it is best to consult with an expert before starting to plant their gardens if you’re a beginner gardener. Smith said that native Texas plants such as perennials, coreopsis, coneflower, and autumn sage are usually a safe bet.
“The advice I would give people is to consult with experts. So we have people here at the store that have been working here for many years, and they’re going to know which plants are going to work for those specific places around their landscape. That way you’re not just buying plants and hoping that they’re going to survive,” Fiore said.
Fiore said whatever look you are going for, choices are all around.
“So, for your spring blooming plants, obviously, there are many annuals you can choose from: things like petunia, things like alyssum, or your more popular geraniums, and things like that. We also have a ton of perennials in stock that are going to be blooming in spring, and there are just so many options to choose from,” Fiore said.
Smith’s has a vegetable guide on their website’s resource page to help know when to plant each crop.
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