Recently I have noticed more and more signs of spring popping up all around the island. The trees are starting to show new growth, the Crocuses and Snowdrops are starting to pop up everywhere,  Cardinals and Blue Jays are making appearances and,  as hard as it is to believe, The weather seems to be going up in temperature just a scosh. All these signs have me itching to get outside and work in the Garden. The island is home to many amazing gardens, and soon enough just walking through the streets of Edgartown will make you feel as if like walking through an Arboretum or  Botanical Garden.

Here are some great tips for getting your garden ready this spring:

• Did you know that Corn Gluten is a natural preemptive weed control? Simply sprinkle it around your garden and you won’t see any crabgrass or other pesky weeds popping up. The general timing of this is to apply it just as the forsythia plants start to bloom.
• Be sure to prune back the following plants to achieve maximum effect come spring:
  • Hydrangeas should be pruned back to the lowest pair of strong buds on last season’s growth
  • Rosa Rugosa should be pruned back roughly 12 inches
  • Any Shrub Roses you may have
• Now is the time to start adding organic material, such as coffee beans or manure to your garden bed. Make sure you wait until the soil and organic material dries out before you start to dig. Working in the wet soil causes compaction and compound destruction.
• Once soil reaches 41 degrees on a regular basis you can start to transfer any seedling vegetables you may have planted  indoors before the final frost happens.
  • Hardier vegetables such as carrots and lettuce tend to grow better in the cooler weather, but make sure to have some form of cover handy to keep the plants safe from any overnight frost that may occur.
• Lastly, take time to shear back any groundcover, such as ivy. They can quickly overtake any garden if not kept in check.

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