Prepping Your Garden For Spring

Prepping Your Garden For Spring

Author: Golden Acre Home and Garden April 2, 2023 Duration: 47:05

How do you like to be woken up? If you're like us, you like to be woken gently with soft sounds like chimes and soft gradual light from the sun. Doesn't that sound nice? We can apply this same thought process to your garden! There are things you can be doing in your garden right now to prepare it for the growing season ahead. Spoiler: None of these tips involve planting even a single plant! Colin and Brandi discuss how to prep you garden in today's episode >>>

************************* 

In this weeks episode....

  • 00:00 | Introduction
  • 02:20 | Where to begin?
  • 04:15 | Trees & Shrubs check up     
  • 05:00 | Dormant Spray Kit 
  • 08:00 | Wake up your garden gently   
  • 19:56 | Question: What to do with leaves on your lawn
  • 11:30 | Leave some debris, save of a bug friend!
  • 15:26 | Pace yourself
  • 17:50 | Amending Soil 
  • 19:53 | Compost Tea
  • 24:00 | When happens when you leave debris on garden beds?
  • 25:40 | Mulch Tips 
  • 29:00 | Weeding & Dandelion Love
  • 31:30 | Colin Transplanted a Dandelion....
  • 33:40 | Raking 
  • 38:05 | Using chemical straps in flower beds 
  • 40:00 | Checking your garden tools and what to buy  
  • 48:00 | Wrap up
  • 36:40 | Question of the Week
  • 40:15 | Next Week....  

************************* 

LINKS

Colin's favourite amendment: Coconut Coir

************************* 

QUESTION OF THE WEEK 

We had a few questions this week from excited gardeners on Instagram! See below...

  • @Alex.paints.stuff |
    • "Left leaves on my lawn in the fall. When should you rake them up and can I mulch them with a lawn mower?"
    • A: 
  • @Jennatabata"When should we be planting seeds?"
    • A: You can plant now depending on the seed! If you're in Alberta, see our free seed starting chart. If not, check you regional garden centres for resources, so following each individual seed packet information to determine if seeds need to be started indoors or direct sowed outside toward the end of May.  
  • @miss_melly1 | "New to gardening and don't know where to start!"
    • A: You came to the right place! Keep an ear on our podcast, attend our free webinars, or come into your local greenhouse for specialized advice :)
  • Holly Marisco | "How do you amend soil in raised planters and is this needed annually?"
    • A: Yes! This should be done annually because plants aren't getting regular nutrients from the Earth. Ideally, you want something lighter so the roots have room to grow. Use things like peatmoss, worm castings, etc. 

Do you have a question or a comment for the Helpful Gardeners?

  • Send us an anonymous voice note HERE
  • send us an email social@goldenacre.ca
  • or find our question of the week every Tuesday on our Instagram

 

NEXT WEEK 

It's the "SODCAST". We've been sitting on this pun for a while now... we're so excited to be joined by a representative of Scotts Canada, Shelly Vance, who is a lawncare expert! Send us your questions so we can ensure you get the most out of your lawn this season.

Turn in Sunday's 8AM MST for more fun with the helpful gardeners!


Ever find yourself staring at a wilting houseplant or a patch of backyard dirt, unsure where to even begin? That's the exact spot where The Helpful Gardeners finds its footing. This isn't a lecture from a distant expert; it's a conversation between two people who genuinely love turning spaces into places. Colin brings his certification and decades of hands-in-the-dirt knowledge from working in all sorts of climates, while Brandi comes at it with a beginner's curiosity and the willingness to ask the questions you might be thinking yourself. Each episode of this podcast from Golden Acre Home and Garden feels like pulling up a chair in a friendly, sunlit shed. You'll hear practical, real-world advice on everything from landscaping fundamentals and seasonal garden tasks to keeping your indoor jungle thriving. They tackle specific problems, share successes and failures, and break down complex topics into manageable steps. Released three times a week, this regular dose of guidance aims to build your confidence, whether you're cultivating a windowsill herb garden or planning a major backyard overhaul. Tune in for the kind of relatable, grounded chat that makes the whole process feel less like a chore and more like a rewarding discovery.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 189

The Helpful Gardeners
Podcast Episodes
Explore Canada's Natural Parks for FREE? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:35
The Canada Strong Pass is available now until September 2!The Canada Strong Pass is breaking down barriers for Summer 2026 to encourage more visits to some of Canadas most iconic places. There is so much diversity in the…
From Fires to Flowers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:25
"It's part of a cycle of nature"Today, we're exploring the increase in wildfire activity in our community and how it impacts our gardens. We're talking the life cycle of forests, the causes of wildfires, and the effects…
Summer Survival Lawncare W/ Shelley Vance from Scott's Canada [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:06
We're talking summer lawn care with our friend Shelley Vance from Scotts Canada! Find out what she thinks about 'No Mow May', and how she tackles cutting the lawn including optimal mowing techniques, proactive maintenanc…
GARDEN COURT: No Mow May [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:54
Welcome back to courthouse!This week, we're diving into "No Mow May", a concept that was popularized during the pandemic encouraging people to refrain from mowing their lawns in May to support pollinators and biodiversit…
Gardening's Green Light: The May Long Weekend [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:11
In Canada, the Victoria Day long weekend is typically our green light for planting in the garden! We're talking about different annual plants you can get right now, tips for creating the perfect planter, and a conversati…
Spilling the Tea on Tea [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:09
It's Mother's Day and while there are lots of ways to celebrate the motherly figures in our lives, afternoon tea is a popular outing this holiday. We dive into the tradition of afternoon tea, its origins, and how it has…
BONUS: Garden Surprises [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:49
Have you seen mystery items pop up in your garden? A shell? A peanut? A new plant? Let us know!Leave a Voice Note: ⁠⁠⁠⁠LINK⁠
GARDEN COURT: Curb Your Appeal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:55
What's the deal with curb appeal? We delve into the subjective nature of curb appeal, the balance between personal expression and neighborhood harmony, and the local regulations that govern property aesthetics. What are…
BONUS: Springo! Signs of Spring [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:06
Colin found another sign of spring in his garden this week! What are you seeing in your community?
Let's Google It [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:21
Google is a common tool for gardeners to diagnose plant issues which can be helpful especially for those weird questions you feel dumb for uttering out loud, but it can also problematic as some scenarios require a fuller…