Welcome the First Day of Spring with 3 Easy Garden Tasks – Do Them This Weekend to Fast-Track Your Flower Beds

March 20 marks the Spring Equinox and it's the perfect opportunity to get out in the yard and spend time with your plants. If want to get your spring garden in better shape, there are lots of easy and enjoyable tasks you can do this weekend to celebrate the start of the season.

Many of these tasks fall on the spring gardening checklist, including soil prep and sowing fast-growing flowers that will give you quick color. You don't need to be a pro gardener to do these Spring Equinox gardening jobs, either – they take just a few minutes and are easy to do.

So, if you want to get your spring garden in order, keep reading. Our Experts share what to do in the garden on the Spring Equinox.

What to Do in the Garden on the Spring Equinox

All of the following Spring Equinox gardening jobs are early spring garden tasks that will prepare your flower beds for successful growing, get your compost pile going, and more.

You might need some essential gardening tools for these tasks, so make sure to have gardening gloves to hand (like these floral long-sleeved ones from Amazon) and a trusty trowel (this Burpee one is a good choice).

1. Get Your Garden Soil Ready

Without good soil health, your planting efforts will go to waste. March is a good time to conduct a soil test (like this lab one from Amazon) and find out what you need to do to improve your garden soil.

'Over the winter, soil (and especially clay soil) can become more compacted,' says gardening expert and landscape designer Caroline Ervin.

'A very light cultivation of the soil with garden fork (like this stainless steel one from Burpee) will create more space for air and water to penetrate the soil and reach the roots.

'To aerate the soil, insert the garden fork into the soil about 8-12" deep, gently move back and forth to loosen the soil, and remove. Repeat this all throughout your planting beds,' she advises.

There are other ways to loosen compacted soil without disturbing it – for example by using a no-dig gardening approach, like adding nutrient-rich organic matter.

'Try reducing how much soil you turn and focus only on the areas where you are planting,' says Siobhan Shaw, sustainable gardening expert and founder of Growing to Give.

'Many of us were taught to turn soil because it looks tidy, but that can create unnecessary work and disrupt natural systems.

'I use a no-till approach to prepare the garden. This keeps the soil structure intact and protects the beneficial life underneath, like worms and insects. By leaving that underground ecosystem undisturbed, gardeners give themselves a head start with healthier, nutrient-rich soil from the very beginning of the season,' Siobhan explains.

Caroline Ervin

Caroline Ervin studied landscape design at George Washington University. Since 2007, she has worked closely with her clients to design, install and maintain both small and large residential gardens in Washington, DC and its nearby suburbs. Travels to gardens throughout the US, as well in Europe, have added to her design background and understanding of historical gardens. She has over 20 years hands-on gardening experience.

2. Plant Fast-Growing Annuals

If you're brand new to gardening or simply don't have lots of spare time to spend out in the yard, then fast-growing flowering annuals are a great pick.

These are low-maintenance blooms that can be planted this weekend. They'll germinate quickly and will bring you colorful flowers in just a few weeks, lasting until summer.

You can grow them in borders, flower beds, and containers. They also make beautiful cutting garden flowers.

'Most quick fast-flowering annuals like lots of sun (6-8 hours of direct sun), need consistent moisture, and will benefit from deadheading to prolong bloom times,' says Caroline.

'Zinnias (you can explore zinnia seeds at Burpee) germinate quickly and typically bloom within 60 days and will continue to bloom all summer until frost. Cosmos (you can find cosmos seeds at True Lead Market) are known for their tall, airy blooms and thrive in the heat of summer. Marigolds (which you can grow from these Amazon marigold seeds) bloom quickly, often within eight weeks,' she suggests.

However, when attempting to grow any of these blooms, you should take into account your US hardiness zone.

'When growing plants from seeds, check the seed packets for key information on when to plant the seeds, how long it takes them to germinate, and when they can be planted outside in the ground,' Caroline says.

'Make a note of your last frost date as some annuals are tender and need to remain indoors until the temperatures will not impact their growth,' she advises.

If needed (for the flowers that don't mind being transplanted), you can sow seeds indoors with these seed trays from Amazon.

Siobhan Shaw

Siobhan is the co-founder of Growing to Give, a dynamic global nonprofit dedicated to transforming community-focused food security and agriculture through sustainable farming and gardening practices. Siobhan is a passionate advocate for women's empowerment in agriculture, mentoring women who aspire to careers in the field. Siobhan also continues her decades of podcasting as the host and co-producer of the health and well-being podcast titled Cancer Bites.

3. Collect Compost Materials

While it can seem daunting to make your own compost, you'll be surprised to learn just how many free composting materials are in your yard – especially in early spring, with lots of plant matter to clean up from winter.

'A simple mix of fallen leaves and vegetable scraps works well for compost,' says Siobhan. 'You should avoid diseased plants or weeds that have gone to seed to keep the compost healthy,' she notes.

There are several other things to never compost, including dairy and meat products, and you should be aware of composting mistakes to make your efforts more successful.

There are lots of ways to start a compost pile. You can use a compost bin (like this tumbling one from Lowe's) or use a lazy composting approach, where you simply start a heap on a flat piece of ground in your yard.

'Perennials and ornamental grasses that were not cut back in the fall are ready to be cut back to allow for new growth to emerge,' adds Caroline.

'The dried leaves and stems, and dried blooms remaining on shrubs like hydrangeas, are perfect additions to the compost pile – they will break down over the next few months and be ready to add back to the soil in the fall or the following spring,' she explains.

If you're keen to speed up composting, you can use this compost accelerator from Amazon.

FAQs

Can I Fertilize My Lawn in March?

There are several things to do with your lawn in March to encourage it to become greener and thicker, and fertilizing it is one of them. Once you see signs of new growth, lawn feed (like this from Lowe's) will support it and help it regain strength after winter.

While it can feel overwhelming to get these Spring Equinox gardening jobs done alongside the other spring tasks, there are actually several spring gardening tasks you don't need to do.

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