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Health & Fitness

Start Your Garden Off Right This Spring!

The best way to get your plant materials off to a great start this spring has nothing to do with fertilizers or soil amendments.

The never-ending rain may at last be retreating and the spring skies reveal occasional sun.  This splendid change in the weather has people rushing to their local greenhouse or nursery to shop for spring flowers. Perhaps you are looking to fill some containers on your patio or front porch, or are contemplating filling the bare spots in your garden. One critical component of gardening in the spring has nothing to do with getting dirty. It’s called “hardening off.” 

Hardening off is the process by which greenhouse and nursery plant material is acclimated to the environment.  Think about greenhouses you frequent. It's hot. Plants get watered a lot. They’re babied so they look perfect for you, the customer. This process creates plants that are tender and fragile because they aren’t exposed to wind, vast temperature changes and sun.  Plants that aren’t hardened off are apt to get sunburned, may exhibit shredded leaves due to spring winds, or completely dry out due to rising temperatures. I try to purchase my plants a week to 10 days before I’m ready to plant. This goes for hanging baskets and tropical plants as well.   

I find that the easiest way to harden off your plant purchase is to place them outside in a shady spot, protected from the elements; a covered patio or large tree will do. Just be sure they’re not in direct sunlight. If evening temperatures are predicted to be less than 40 degrees, I place a frost blanket over them for the night- just don’t forget to pull it off in the morning. Water your plants as usual and resist the temptation to plant for a week. 

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By doing this your plants will begin the season the best condition possible for beautifying your home and bringing a smile to your face. Start off on the right foot; a little planning in the beginning will bring great rewards all summer long!

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