If you have transplants in the yard, be sure to protect them from any late spring frosts with a cover.
Gardening Tasks by Month for Nelson, BC
Gardening Tips
Nelson, BC
Consider building raised beds if you have drainage problems or want to help warm the soil more quickly for a jump-start on gardening.
Asparagus and rhubarb plants can be planted as soon as the soil is workable.
Test your hoses and sprinklers to make sure that they work.
Fertilize your shrubs and trees if they need it. If they are established and healthy, this may not be necessary.
Mow your lawn to about 2 inches in height to help feed the roots and cut out weeds.
Improve your lawn soil and turf! Core aerate, overseed, and top-dress with 1/4 inch of compost.
Remove leaves from your lawn to prevent any diseases.
Prune your houseplants after they have finished blooming. Remember to fertilize and water them as well.
Cut back ornamental grasses a few inches above the ground.
Divide hosta, daylilies, and mums.
As soon as the soil is workable, add in manure or compost to prepare your garden for planting.
If soil temperature is above 40 degrees and dry enough, you may be able to plant cool-season crops, such as carrots, beets, broccoli, kale, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, and spinach.
Spread 2 to 4 inches of organic mulch (course ground bark or wood chips) to keep weeds from germinating.
Apply compost over your garden and landscape areas to help improve the soil. Mix 2 to 3 inches into new beds or 1 inch into established beds.
Spray trees and shrubs to prevent predatory insects and diseases.
Now is the time to plant more berry plants; consider planting disease-resistant varieties.
Plant trees and shrubs while it’s still cool and wet. Apply a mix of compost and mulch in the planting hole AND all around the plants to preserve water and feed the roots. Just keep mulch away from the base/bark to avoid pests.
Got compost? Check your compost bin, and you should have new material for spring mulching.
The tomato season in the Northwest is about 120 days. Consider seeding indoors! You’ll want to seed at least 6 to 8 weeks before transplanting in late May (after hardening off plants).
Did you test your soil? Make any necessary amendments, based on the results of your soil analysis.
