Spring 2025 Garden Prep

Spring 2025 Garden Prep

Spring is here!  Now, it may be meteorological spring, and it may still feel like winter, but we can start preparing our gardens now, knowing warm weather is headed our way very soon.

In our planned communities, Overstreet offers a fantastic starting point with our included landscaping packages.  As the weather changes and you look forward to being outside more, don’t neglect your investment.  It’s time to tend what you already have and perhaps add some new vegetation to enhance your beautiful new home!

According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture January through March is a great time to plan your garden by prepping soil, planning your garden, buying seeds, and starting plants indoors. So, whether you are a seasoned gardener or just learning the basics, here is a great reminder of things we can do now to have a healthy and ‘fruitful’ garden this summer into fall.

1. Preparing Soil:
Having healthy, nutrient-rich soil is the very “foundation” of gardening. It’s an often overlooked yet essential task to ensure that our fruits, vegetables, and flowers have the best growing season.  

•Spring Cleaning: Now is the time to remove any leftover fall and winter debris. Be sure to remove old fallen leaves and weeds from garden beds. This is also a great time to thoroughly clean and sharpen your gardening tools to ensure they're ready for the season.

•Soil Testing:  The pH level of your soil is important to create a healthy environment for plants to grow. In Illinois, it is recommended that soil have a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0; with a pH of 6.5 being considered the sweet spot for optimal nutrients. The pH of garden soil can be easily determined by using a kit, which can be purchased at hardware stores, large garden centers, or online.  

•Amendments: A soil amendment is any material added to soil to improve its physical properties, such as water retention, permeability, drainage, aeration, fertility, and structure. The goal of amending soil is to provide a better environment for roots. Amending soil is easy - simply incorporate compost, well-rotted manure, or other organic matter to improve soil structure and fertility.

•Weed Control: Weed prevention is crucial this time of year and in a high end community like Hidden Creek or Saddle Creek Estates, you don’t want to be the neighbor that has a yard full of dandelions and an overgrown garden. Although, you may not see them yet, pesky weeds are already on their way. If you haven’t already hired a weed control company, it’s time to do so.  You can always put down weed control and fertilizer on your own.  In your gardens, mulch is an effective way to prevent weeds from setting up roots in your garden.

•Breaking up the soil: To break up soil, you can use methods like tilling, planting cover crops with deep roots, or consider no-till methods with mulching and amending the surface.

2. Plan Your Garden: Now is the time to plan your garden layout and choose which plants you want to grow. Do you want flowering perennials, vegetables, and annuals?  Think about how much space each plant needs and when to expect the first blooms or harvest.

•Move and Remove: Early Spring is the best time to transplant perennials and trim trees and shrubs. Trimming trees and shrubs promotes health new growth, improves health, and enhances nutrient absorption. Trimming helps to prevents trees and shrubs from becoming overgrown or unruly.  It you plant a vegetable garden every year make sure you pull out old roots and plan to rotate the vegetables you plant.

•Vegetable gardens: Vegetable gardens often require a significant amount of planning. You want to avoid planting too early. Illinois is in USDA hardiness zone 6a, and the last frost is typically mid-May. Mother’s Day is always a good reference point for planting. You’ll also need to consider which vegetables are good neighbors. For example, tomatoes thrive with basil, onion, and marigolds; but do not grow well next to cucumbers. You can refer to The Farmer’s Almanac to learn more about companion planting.

•Flower gardens: Growing a flower garden is an underappreciated art form. With a little planning and thought, your flower garden can become a beautiful evolution of colors throughout the summer. When selecting plants, consider factors such as the amount of sunlight vs shade, flower height, and bloom time.  Once you understand these elements, you can choose plants that thrive in those conditions. Don’t forget to combine perennials and annuals together to increase bloom frequency.

3. Start Seeds Indoors: You can get a head start on your garden by sowing seeds for your favorite flowers and vegetables indoors in late winter or early spring for an earlier start.

•Begin by using Seed Starting Trays or create your own using biodegradable materials.  Simply follow the instructions on the seed packet for planting.  Be sure to cover and water as instructed. Cover the tray with plastic wrap or humidity dome (often included with seed starting trays) to maintain moisture levels. Ensure your seedlings are getting the proper amount light required.  You may want to consider using a grow light and heating mat to assist for faster germination.  

•Transplant: Once your seedlings sprout and develop true leaves, you can make the move to pots or your outdoor garden. Just be sure that frost is no longer a threat. Always refer to your plants seed packet for specific watering and light instructions and blooms or harvest expectations.  

4. Enjoy!  While you wait for the fruits of your labor, don’t forget to keep nurturing your plants and enjoy watching them grow. Gardening is a journey, and every day offers something new—whether it’s the delicate unfurling of a leaf, the sweet scent of a bloom, or the satisfaction of seeing your hard work paying off. Take the time to pause, observe, and connect with nature. Before you know it, you’ll be reaping the rewards of your patience and care. Happy gardening!

Do you dream of a larger garden and need more land?  We have some wonderful options in Yorkville and Naperville!  We can also help you find your perfect oversized property elsewhere.

Not sure where to grow your dream garden and build your ideal home?
Not to worry, Overstreet Builders is here to help find your dream location and turn your dream into a reality. With over 60 years of experience and our Proven Process, we work closely with you every step of the way—starting from finding the ideal location to designing and constructing your dream home.  We’re committed to making your vision come to life, ensuring a smooth and rewarding home-building experience that extends even to your outdoor sanctuary!