Winter to Spring: Preparing Your Garden for the Next Growing Season
Winter may still have its grip on the garden, but spring is just around the corner! If you’re dreaming of lush herbs, thriving native plants, and pollinator-friendly blooms, now is the perfect time to prep your garden for the new season. Here’s a step-by-step guide to ensure your garden is ready to flourish as soon as warmer days arrive.
Step 1: Assess & Clean Up Your Garden
Before diving into planting, take some time to evaluate your garden’s current condition.
✅ Clear Out Debris – Remove dead plants, fallen leaves, and any lingering weeds to prevent pests and disease.
✅ Check for Drainage Issues – Georgia winters can bring heavy rains. If your soil is too compacted, consider aerating it or adding organic matter to improve drainage.
✅ Inspect Perennials & Native Plants – Some native plants benefit from light pruning in late winter, while others prefer to be left alone to reseed naturally.
💡 Pro Tip: Leave some dried flower heads and hollow stems in place—pollinators like native bees and butterflies often overwinter in them!
Step 2: Revitalize Your Soil
Good soil is the foundation of a healthy garden. Winter is an excellent time to build soil fertility so your plants get the nutrients they need come spring.
🔸 Test Your Soil – Use a simple soil test kit to check pH and nutrient levels. Georgia’s soil is often acidic, so amending with lime may be necessary for some plants.
🔸 Add Compost or Organic Matter – A layer of aged compost, well-rotted manure, or leaf mold will enrich your soil and encourage beneficial microbes.
🔸 Mulch for Protection – A fresh layer of organic mulch (like pine straw, wood chips, or leaf mulch) will help regulate soil temperature and suppress weeds.
💡 Pro Tip: If you’re growing native Georgia plants, avoid over-fertilizing! Many native species thrive in lean, well-draining soil.
Step 3: Choose the Best Plants for Early Planting
Not all plants are ready to go into the ground as soon as spring arrives! That’s why it’s important to plan ahead and choose the right ones for early planting. The good news? We’ve done the hard work for you!
🌱 Best Early-Season Plants:
✔️ Cold-Hardy Herbs: Cilantro, Chives, Dill, and Lemon Balm—great for container gardening or raised beds.
✔️ Native Pollinators: Wild Dandelion, Elderberry, and Echinacea—these provide early food for bees and butterflies.
✔️ Perennial Powerhouses: Rosemary, Thyme, and Oregano—these come back year after year, saving you time and effort!
🌿 Why Buy Live Plants Instead of Starting from Seed?
✔️ Saves Time & Effort – No need to deal with seed trays, grow lights, or fragile seedlings.
✔️ Stronger, Healthier Plants – Our live plants are already established and ready to thrive.
✔️ Curated Selection – We offer hard-to-find native and medicinal plants that big-box stores don’t carry. We meticulously care for each plant
💡 Pro Tip: Order your plants early! Our live plants sell fast in the spring, and availability is limited. Browse our selection now and start making a note of what you’d like to purchase as things become available.
Step 4: Prune & Divide Perennials
February is a great time to prune certain perennials and divide overgrown plants to encourage new growth.
🔸 Trim Back Woody Herbs – If you have lavender, rosemary, or thyme, give them a light trim to promote bushy growth.
🔸 Divide Native Perennials – Plants like Elderberry and Bee Balm can be dug up and divided if they’ve gotten too crowded.
🔸 Cut Back Old Growth – Remove dead stems from echinacea and black-eyed Susans to make room for fresh spring growth.
💡 Pro Tip: Wait until early spring to prune plants that flower on new growth (like elderberries).
Step 5: Get Ready for Outdoor Planting
By late February or early March, Georgia gardeners can start transplanting cool-weather plants outdoors.
🌱 Best Plants to Start Outdoors in Late Winter/Early Spring:
✔️ Native Pollinators: Columbine, Yarrow, and Wild Dandelion
✔️ Hardy Herbs: Chives, Parsley, and Dill
✔️ Early Greens: Spinach, Kale, and Mustard Greens
🌞 Tips for Early Spring Planting:
✔️ Harden off indoor seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor temperatures.
✔️ Keep an eye on the weather—be ready to cover young plants if a late frost sneaks in.
✔️ Use raised beds or containers to warm up soil faster for early planting.
Final Thoughts: Your Spring Garden Starts NOW!
By taking these steps now, you’ll set your garden up for success long before the warm days of spring arrive. Whether you're growing medicinal herbs, native flowers, or fresh veggies, a little planning and prep in late winter goes a long way!
Need seeds, live plants, or expert advice? Planted Wellness Co. has a selection of native and medicinal plants perfect for the season. Visit our shop or stop by our next pop-up to get your garden started!
Happy planting! 🌱✨
