Print this article

Organizing for a Rewarding Spring

By Kathy Jenkins, Professional Organizer, Come To Order 

After the last sign of snow has gone and the days become longer and warmer, it is the time to beat the wintertime blues with a dose of springtime gardening. But how and where do you get started? Planning is the key to every successful project, so take a moment during these final days of winter to sit down with your calendar and plan your springtime gardening. If you block off time on your calendar now you will be well on your way to a colorful and bountiful season. 

Before you get started it is best to clean up the mess that mother nature left you over the winter. The wind, ice and snow can do a real number on your trees, bushes, beds and yard. After picking up the loose debris assess which plants survived, which ones need a good trim and which ones will need to be replaced. Note that spring blooming trees and bushes should be pruned after they bloom. Also make note of any landscape repairs (edging or hardscape) that will need to be addressed.  

Once your yard is cleaned, it is time to do the same for your tools. Clean and condition your spades, hoes and shovels by dunking them in a bucket filled with sand and motor oil. This will loosen and dirt and rust that has lingered over the winter and get them in shape for your gardening season. Shears and pruners should be cleaned and sharpened so as not to damage your tress and shrubs. Finally, clean, tune-up and sharpen the blades of your lawn mower. There is nothing worse than being ready for your first cut of the season, and finding out that your lawn mower is not! 

You will know that your lawn is waking from its winters nap when the color changes from brown to green. It is at this point that you should feed your lawn with a slow-release fertilizer. This is also the time to stay one step ahead of the weeds and put down a pre-emergent weed killer. 

Now you have your yard and tools are ready for a season of gardening and if you love gardening you will probably spend a great deal of time moving and replacing the equipment you use. This can quickly lead to disorganization. Whether your tools are kept in a corner of the garage or a dedicated garden shed, it is important to get and keep the space organized so that you can be as productive as possible.  Lawn mowers, shears, weed eaters and garden hoses can easily become disheveled increasing the time (and your frustration) it takes to prepare yourself for your next gardening project.  

Good news! With a few hours and some common items from your local home improvement store you can be well on your way to an organized garden tool area. Before you buy and install anything consider what it is that you need to store, take lots of measurements and create a simple design. Three important storage items to consider are: hanging hooks – these are excellent because they allow you to get things like hoses, extension cords and other garden tools up off of the floor and onto the wall; shelves – these are terrific for storing boxed or bottled items such as plant food or insecticide; and cabinets with drawers – these will help you neatly store smaller items such as hose nozzles, seed packets and plastic trash bags. Of course with the boom in organizational products in the market place it is very easy to find merchandise specifically designed to help you keep all of your garden gear in order.  

Spring will be here in a few short weeks, so get out your calendar, start planning and organizing and you will be sure to have your most rewarding gardening season ever! 

Kathy Jenkins is a Residential Professional Organizer, Student Organizer, Certified Family Manager Coach, Writer and Speaker based in Richmond, Virginia. She is a member of NAPO, NSGCD and ABWA and is dedicated to helping her clients simplify their lives by reducing clutter, organizing their homes and offices, and managing their time. Kathy especially enjoys working with kids and their families to help them learn good organizational skills that will benefit them for a lifetime.