A simple seasonal gardening guide with easy tips for planting, growing, and maintaining your garden year-round—perfect for everyone.

I have been an avid gardener for years. It’s been a great pastime after retiring. Through trial and error, I have learned quite a few “do’s” and “don’ts.” I’ve designed this quick guide for gardeners who want to stay active and enjoy gardening through every season. Whether you grow vegetables, flowers, or herbs, these tips will help you garden smarter and safer.

Check back with me as the growing season progresses! I will have more gardening tips and guides for you!

Spring Gardening Basics

• Start seeds indoors to get a head You don’t always need to dig out the old clay pots for this. Seedling trays are a great option for starting numerous seedlings. Make sure it has vented domes to cover it. This ensures proper humidity and protection while the seedlings sprout. Many seedling trays can be found on places such as Amazon and won’t break the bank.
• When you are ready to plant those seedlings in your garden, prepare the soil with compost and organic
• Plant cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach, peas, and
• Use raised beds to reduce bending and improve There are many varieties of raised garden beds, as well as many advantages to having a raised garden bed-a couple of which include improved drainage and the potential for less weeds.
• It’s always a good idea to garden in short sessions to prevent

*Tip: Work in 20–30-minute gardening sessions to protect your joints and prevent heat exhaustion.

Summer Garden Care

• Water early in the morning to reduce
• Apply mulch to keep the soil cool and
• Harvest vegetables frequently to encourage
• Wear sunscreen and stay (This is the best advice!)
• Use shade cloth if temperatures become

*Tip: There are many types of shade cloth on the market.  It’s a good idea to research what type is best for your location, i.e., temperatures, wind, rain, type of plants in the garden, etc.

Fall Harvest & Cleanup

• Harvest vegetables before frost
• Remove dead plants and
• Plant bulbs for spring
• Add compost or mulch to nourish the
• Clean and store gardening

*Tip: Always store your tools where they are easily accessible.   You never know what next year’s gardening experience will bring.

Winter Planning & Preparation

• Review last season’s successes and
• Plan a manageable garden Do you really feel like canning all those tomatoes next year?
• Order seeds
• Maintain and sharpen
• Research new plants and

*Tip: Make sure you know your growing zone.  The Arbor Day Foundation provides an interactive map to help you determine your growing zone.