April is upon us, which means that spring is finally blooming, and it’s time to start thinking about our gardens. Gardening season in east Tennessee runs from May to late October, but it’s never too early to start planning, especially if this is your first season.
Learn from the best at the Master Gardeners of Hamilton County’s 2nd annual Master Your Garden Expo at Camp Jordan in East Ridge, Tennessee on April 12 and 13. The two-day expo will feature lectures, demonstrations and vendors that serve to educate the public on all things gardening. Garden expo chairwoman Sue Henley shared these 5 basic spring gardening tips for beginners:
Get your soil tested.
“If you have poor soil, no matter what you plant it’s not going to thrive or get to the size it could get to,” Henley explains. In order to test your soil, send a sample to the University of Tennessee Soil, Plant and Pest Center. They will let you know if your soil is healthy or ready for seeds, or is lacking essentials needed to make your garden bloom. See their website for specific instructions.
Don’t bite off more than you can chew.