From the Ground Up: Tips to get ready for spring gardening

As the dark gloomy days of winter tick away on the calendar all gardeners look forward to spring. When spring finally arrives there seems to not be enough time to get everything done. There are things you can start to do now that will help you be ready for spring.

Gardening tools

Check your gardening tools. Did you store each and every one of them away as you should have? Or were you like some of the rest of us who thought, 'I will do that later?' With the temperatures not being below zero every day, this is a good time to check tools and remove the dried dirt with a wire brush. Shovels, spades and hoes can be sanded with sand paper and sharpened with a file or whetstone. The entire shovel, spade or hoe can be lightly oiled. The wooden handles should be lightly sanded and rubbed with linseed oil or Tungoil.

Speaking of oil, the bolt attaching the two blades of your pruners and loppers should also be oiled. Do this now to make spring work easier.

Surprise your lawnmower repair man and have him service your lawnmower and sharpen the blade now.

Seeds and Bulbs

Wondering whether the packages of seeds left from last year or even the year before are still viable? Now is the time to check. Place 10 seeds between two wet paper towels. Place the towels in a plastic bag and keep in a warm place. Check those seeds on the anticipated 'day of the germination time' or a few days later listed on the seed package. If at least five of the 10 seeds have germinated, your seed is still viable.

Ever wish there was a quicker way to plant all those small seeds in a long row in your garden? Make your own seed tapes. Cut stripes of newspaper one inch wide. Make an old fashion flour paste of flour and water. Paint the newspaper strips with the paste. Place seeds on the strip using the spacing recommended on the seed package, fold the strip in half and allow to thoroughly dry. Plant the entire strip in the spring at the recommended depth on the seed package. Water well and cover with soil. This is much faster than slowly placing each seed in that long row when you have many other spring chores to do. This works especially well for very fine seeds such as carrots.

Last but not least check any bulbs that you may have in storage. Soft and rotting bulbs should be discarded to keep the other bulbs ready for planting when spring does arrive. Think spring it will soon be here.

Don't forget to register for the Linn County Master Gardener's Winter Gardening Fair on March 5. Hope to see you there.

• For gardening questions, call the Linn County Extension Master Gardener Hortline at (319) 447-0647.