2. Prune roses. Cut back the winterkilled wood down to live wood. You can tell where green wood starts by the faint green ring just inside the outer bark of the canes. This will encourage new growth. Gardeners in extreme northern areas might want to wait until the daffodils are in bud before pruning their roses. Very hard frosts can nip the tender new shoots.
3. Get a soil test. I can't stress enough how important this is. Especially for the vegetable garden. I never thought it made much difference until I started having my soil analyzed. I discovered I was giving it far too much nitrogen and not nearly enough of the other essential elements. Once I began amending my soil properly, my yields increased and plants were much healthier.
4. Add amendments. It's too early to turn the soil in many parts of northern New England. If you can take a handful of soil, mush it into a ball and bounce it lightly on your palm without the ball falling to bits, it's way too soon to till. However, you can add amendments to the top of your beds. Sprinkle peat moss or compost over the garden and add whatever your soil test results recommends.
5. Service power tools. Change the gas and oil in your rototiller and lawn mower. Sharpen the lawn mower blade. Check spark plugs and pull chords and replace them if necessary.
6. Build a cold frame. Anyone who's never utilized a cold frame is missing early vegetables. You can make an easy and portable cold frame using hay bales and an old storm window, preferably one with a wooden frame. Stack hay bales two high in a size to match the window and place the glass on top of them. Remember to vent it during the day. A block of wood makes a handy vent. Plant your frame with lettuces, kale and other cold loving crops.
Go To Page: 1 2
