Spring is here, pretty much at your doorstep, and you want to make sure that you get it right when it comes to your garden. That's why this little brief gives you some basics on maintaining and preparing your garden, at such a crucial time. How your garden turns out will depend largely on taking the right course of action. In the garden, the season is known as one of birth and rebirth begins with the necessary preparation of the soil.

3 words - Soil, soil, and soil!

Without healthy soil, it is unlikely that you will be able to get the best out of the seeds that you plant. There is the inevitable digging which needs to be done in order to loosen the soil so that the roots of the plants you plant can penetrate further. Organic matter for soil is increasingly becoming the "talk of the town" as a way to improve soil quality, and after all, a healthy lawn is dependent on healthy soil. So make sure to mix in some of the magical nutrients into the soil when digging and turning.

Pick "n" Mix

The next step is to choose the plants that you want to grow. Obviously, this choice is personal, and depends entirely on the look and feel you want in your garden. The key to this part of the process is to make sure that that the plants you pick appeal to you and that they will be suitable for the environment and conditions in which you will plant them.

Time to Sew

Once you have chosen the plants that you want, the real fun part comes. Planting should be done on a mild day, so that the conditions aren't too harsh for your budding plants. You should dig a relatively deep and wide hole and place the plant in its new location. You should make sure that the top of the root is level with the surrounding soil before refilling the hole, half with soil before filling the rest with water. The water should seep into the soil at which point you should fill the rest of the hole with the leftover soil. Then, garnish with a little more water and voila!

Almost there...

You all know that the process doesn't end there. Your little plants will need dedicated care and attention in order to grow properly. Regular watering, generally in the early morning is best. If you use a hose, make sure that you don't drown the plants in too much water. Instead, make sure that the water seeps in slowly. Add a couple of inches of mulch for a double whammy of helping to stop weeds from growing and helping the soil retain water. Over the next few weeks, keep watering and you can even add some fertilizer (around mid-season) to give your plants a boost. By following these tips you should soon be reaping the rewards of a beautiful garden.