February and March are the months to get ready for Spring planting. Use seed and plant catalogs to plan your vegetable and flower beds. Burpee.com and other catalogs are good not only for ordering supplies, but as a resource.  Find names and types of plants from photos in these catalogs. Need some catalogs?  You can do an Internet search for seed and plant companies and request their catalog. I opt for the printed version just because I prefer to browse the pages.

Ways to get Free Seeds

Try Freecycle.org for seed swaps. Here you can offer and collect seeds from other gardeners. Have a seed and plant swap with neighbors, relatives, and friends. Support your local garden club’s plant and seed sales by buying vegetable and garden plants at these sales. I find that these type of garden club sales often have native and different plants not found at the typical home center. Don’t pass up free seed packs at events and stores that offer them in the coming months.

What to plant in early  Spring:

Cold crops such as carrots, beets, broccoli, kohlrabi, salad greens, peas, spinach, radishes, and scallions are first to be planted in early Spring. Use a source such as garden.org/zipzone based on your zip code this will determine the Hardiness zone for planting.

Find new trends in gardening

Attend The Philadelphia Flower Show on March 4, 2012 through March 11, 2012 (pennhort.org). Find inspiration for your backyard.  See this year’s new tools, tips, and techniques for gardening.  This year’s them is Hawaii. See the tropical wonder of Hawaii’s islands and say goodbye to winter.

Early spring to do list:

Test your soil with soil kit available at most home centers. Add amendments to the soil if so required from the results of your soil test.

Check your water equipment now for damage, replacements or additions to prepare for summer’s heat and dry days. Take inventory of hoses, sprinklers, nozzles, automated timers for the yard, garden sprinklers, and watering cans.

Incorporate solar lighting into walkways, paths, and landscaped areas for a welcoming appearance.

Prune trees and shrubs in early spring that flower in the summer months.  Remove dead or damaged branches at this time. It is easier to see the branches before flowering in the months ahead. During the snowy months shelter or remove heavy snowfall from trees and branches to prevent damage.

Early spring is the time to put down a weed and feed on your flower beds.  This is also the time to attend to your lawn with a weed and feed dressing. Check for bare spots in your lawn and sow in grass seed.

Be ready to plant annuals and perennials after the last frost has past.  Check your growing zone for dates that are safe to beginning planting.  I like to wait until Mother’s Day to start planting outside.  It’s a safe bet frost has past and the availability of plants from home and garden centers is at the peak during this time.

Here is what  to do with your printed copies of seed and plant catalogs after you have made your selections; make your own Valentine’s Day cards. Cut out the pictures of lowers and plants from the catalogs. Glue the cut out pictures onto white or red valentine shaped paper doilies. Sign the back, and your cards are done.  We used to make cards this way with my Mom in my elementary school days. It makes a special greeting and it’s inexpensive! Free catalog, heart shaped dollies-around a dollar, and glue-you have that right?

visit Alison at  her blog  Kitchen Table

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