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Sheet Pan Kielbasa and Potatoes

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Overhead view of a sheet pan of Kielbasa and Potatoes with purple cabbage wedges.This easy sheet pan kielbasa and potatoes recipe is a family favorite. It uses simple ingredients, is packed with flavor, so quick to prep, and requires minimal cleanup.

Idealmuzik Pharmacy Pens Set – Fun Medical-Themed Ballpoint Pens for Pharmacists,Nurse,Pharmacy Students,and Healthcare Workers – Smooth Writing Pens for School,Journaling,or Work – 8 Pack

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Price: $9.99
(as of Feb 24, 2026 08:44:56 UTC – Details)


Pharmacy Pens Set – Fun Medical-Themed Ballpoint Pens for Pharmacists,Nurse,Pharmacy Students,and Healthcare Workers – Smooth Writing Pens for School,Journaling,or Work – 8 Pack
Pharmacy-Themed Designs: Each pen features pharmacy-inspired patterns such as pill bottles, prescriptions, and medical symbols, making this set a thoughtful addition to your stationery collection.
Smooth and Effortless Writing: These ballpoint pens are designed for comfortable daily use, delivering a clean, consistent flow of ink—perfect for note-taking, journaling, or writing prescriptions during study practice.
Durable and Reliable Quality: Crafted with sturdy materials, this pen set is built to last, ensuring your writing stays neat whether at work, in school, or during exam prep.
Perfect for Pharmacists and Students: Whether you’re a pharmacist, pharmacy tech, or medical student, these pens add a touch of fun and personality to your desk, office, or clinical rotation supplies.
Unique Gift for Healthcare Workers: This pharmacy-themed pen set makes a practical and playful gift for pharmacists, students, or coworkers—perfect for graduations, appreciation weeks, or work anniversaries.

Easy Weeknight Dinner Ideas (4 Quick & Simple Meals)

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If you’re staring at your fridge every night wondering what to make and feeling more tired than inspired, Cooking Burnout Club is for you.

This isn’t about complicated recipes or perfect meal prep. It’s about getting dinner on the table without overthinking it. The meals here are built to be quick, straightforward, and actually worth the effort. Minimal chopping. Smart shortcuts. Flavors that feel satisfying without adding more stress to your day.

Four meals (burger bowls, sweet and sour meatballs, blackened salmon tacos, gnocchi soup) for meal plan.Four meals (burger bowls, sweet and sour meatballs, blackened salmon tacos, gnocchi soup) for meal plan.

This week’s dinners follow that exact formula. Burger Bowls when you want comfort without stovetop chaos. Blackened Salmon Tacos ready in about 15 minutes. Sweet and Sour Chicken Meatballs with rice and green beans for an easy, balanced plate. And Gnocchi Soup for a cozy, low-effort meal that cooks in one pot.

These are the kinds of recipes you can make even when your energy is low and your patience is thin. You don’t need a complicated system. You just need a few reliable dinners that make the week feel manageable again.

Bowl filled with ground beef, fries, lettuce, tomato and special sauce.Bowl filled with ground beef, fries, lettuce, tomato and special sauce.

15 Minute Ground Beef Burger Bowls

These ground beef burger bowls have all the flavors of a classic burger served in a bowl with lettuce, tomato, crispy fries, and a quick homemade burger sauce. Ready in about 15 minutes for an easy weeknight dinner.

Check out this recipe

Two tacos with blackened salmon and slaw on a white plate.Two tacos with blackened salmon and slaw on a white plate.

Easy Blackened Salmon Tacos (15 Minutes)

These blackened salmon tacos are made with air fryer salmon and a quick blackened ranch slaw, all tucked into warm tortillas. Ready in about 15 minutes with just 8 ingredients, they’re perfect for easy weeknight dinners.

Check out this recipe

Vegan tomato gnocchi soup in white bowl with basil around the bowl.Vegan tomato gnocchi soup in white bowl with basil around the bowl.

Tomato Gnocchi Soup

If you want to make this even more burnout friendly, use frozen diced tomatoes, mini gluten free gnocchi (they cook in just 2 minutes) and frozen spinach!

Check out this recipe

Chicken sweet and sour meatballs with jasmine rice on white plate.Chicken sweet and sour meatballs with jasmine rice on white plate.

Sweet and Sour Chicken Meatballs

Cook the meatballs in the oven with frozen broccoli or frozen green beans. Serve with instant pot or microwave rice for a quick and easy meal.

Check out this recipe

Alana’s Plant Playground in Ohio

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Hi GPODers!

Many of us are still dealing with snowstorms and below-freezing temperatures, but even if you’re looking out at a white landscape it’s time to start daydreaming and planning for this year’s garden. No matter how many years you’ve been perfecting your landscape there is always more to be done, and Alana Muhlberger in Columbus, Ohio (Zone 6b) knows that’s a great thing. Her landscape is a lush collection of lovely colors and tantalizing texture, but she is still finding room for improvements and reasons to try something new.

My garden is an ongoing experiment and playground. My style transitioned from cottage-ish flower bonanza to something a little quieter with more solidity in the last few years. Last spring I dug out large numbers of daylilies and similar plants that look like an undistinguished green mass when not flowering. This fall I also focused on adding nativars with colorful fall foliage since November needed some more bling.

I think of May as iris-time. I divided and moved this one around while it was still blooming to find spots where the color is echoed. The iris is called Autumn Encore (Iris ‘Autumn Encore’Zones 4–9), although it doesn’t rebloom like the name implies. The purple plant behind it is a Winecraft Black smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria ‘NCCO1’Zones 4–8) I keep small, and the other dark plant to the right is a Fireside ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘UMNHarpell’Zones 3–7). For the foreseeable future, I’ll be fighting with myself over how large I can stand to let the holly next to the iris get. It came from my parents’ land and they’re substantial in the wild.

large garden arbor covered in climbing flowersThe rootstock of a grafted rose is on the left with Peaches and Cream honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum ‘Inov86’Zones 4–9) on the right. Weirdly, I think the honeysuckle smells like sunscreen. The rose only blooms once but I love its exuberance after the grafted part failed to perform. I probably planted it incorrectly.

bright orange lilies in summer gardenThis area in July is still pretty flamboyant. This is Primal Scream daylily (Hemerocallis ‘Primal Scream’Zones 3–9) with phlox, a canna, bee balm and what I think is a primrose that the birds must have planted.

ornamental grasses in late summer gardenI’m working on blocking the view here. There’s a young Spartan juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Spartan’Zones 4–9) peeking out that will eventually fill in the middle of the “wall”. The while foliage in front is a Vanilla Brandy abelia (Abelia × grandiflora ‘Bailbeliaone’Zones 6–9) that I planted in January two years ago. I like the contrast here of the fountain and feather reed grasses (Calamagrostis × acutiflora, Zones 4–11).

colorful foliage in late fall gardenA foliage scene in November. The young dogwood is also from the woods at my parents’ house. The yellowing shrub behind it is a sweetshrub (Clethra alnifolia, Zones 4–9) I’ve pruned to stay more oval and upright. There’s also a Gro-Low fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-Low’, Zones 3–9) on the left with orange-ish leaves. In the next bed, a Sweet Drift rose (Rosa ‘Meiswetdom’, Zones 4–11) is still blooming – the Drift series are pretty amazing and get taller than described here.

Thank you so much for sharing these gorgeous garden highlights with us, Alana! It’s absolutely true that the best part about gardening is that the garden is never truly done, and it’s incredible to see the beauty you’re able to create from the endless experimenting.

What goals do you have for your garden for this year? Are you planning for exciting new additions or tackling a project you’ve been putting off for a bit now? We would love the chance to see your space before it goes through its next evolution. Follow the NEW directions below to submit your photos to Garden Photo of the Day!

 

We want to see YOUR garden!

Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

To submit, fill out the Garden Photo of the Day Submission Form.

You can also send 5–10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.

Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here

A Dietitians’ Review Of Hiya Kids Daily Greens

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Overhead view of a cup of hiya drink mix showing the chocolate frothy top.We’re dietitians who are also moms. Here’s our review of Hiya daily greens powder for kids after trying it in our own homes for a year. We share our experience using it, how it tastes, how much it costs, and the types of kids who would be good candidates for nutritional support like this.

Prescribing Mental Health Medication

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Price: $77.99 - $48.51
(as of Feb 23, 2026 20:43:18 UTC – Details)

Prescribing Mental Health Medication is a comprehensive text for all practitioners who treat mental disorders with medication. This new (third) edition is fully updated and includes a variety of additional chapters.

Prescribing Mental Health Medication covers the latest digital methodologies including Internet-based mental health treatment, electronic medical records and prescriber use of social media. Including information on all psychotropic medications in use in the United States and the United Kingdom, the book incorporates clinical tips, sample dialogues for talking about mental health medications to patients, and information specifically relevant in primary care settings. It looks at:

• how to determine if medication is needed, proper dosing and how to start, stop and change medication

• specific mental health symptoms and appropriate medication

• special populations including non-adherent patients, medication abusers, those mixing alcohol and psychotropics, confused patients, children, adolescents, pregnant women and seniors

• management of medication side effects and avoidance of medication risk

• prescription of generic preparations

• organizing a prescriptive office and record keeping.

The additional chapters in this new edition of Prescribing Mental Health Medication cover topics such as combining specific medications, combining medications and psychological therapies, use of ‘natural’ substances in mental health treatment, successfully managing patient relapse, and appropriate prescriptions of potentially controversial medications such as stimulants and benzodiazepines.

This practical text explains the entire process of medication assessment, management and follow up for general medical practitioners, mental health practitioners, students, residents, prescribing nurses and others perfecting this skill.


From the Publisher

Key selling points for Prescribing Mental Health MedicationKey selling points for Prescribing Mental Health Medication

Blurb and description for Prescribing Mental Health MedicationBlurb and description for Prescribing Mental Health Medication

Related titles for Prescribing Mental Health MedicationRelated titles for Prescribing Mental Health Medication

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Routledge
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 18, 2021
Edition ‏ : ‎ 3rd
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 570 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0367466910
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0367466916
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.1 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.85 x 1.29 x 9.69 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #749,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #101 in Medical Psychopharmacology #116 in Popular Psychology Psychopharmacology #203 in Nursing Psychiatry & Mental Health
Customer Reviews: 4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars (16) var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });

How to Grow Citrus in a Greenhouse?

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If you’re too worried about the climatic conditions in your region and want to have a controlled environment, then growing citrus in a greenhouse is an ideal solution.

A greenhouse lets you manage temperature, humidity, light, and airflow—creating the warm, sunny conditions citrus trees naturally love, no matter what’s happening outside.

You’ve actually got plenty of options when it comes to growing citrus in a greenhouse. Lemons, limes, sweet oranges, mandarins, and even grapefruits can all do really well, especially dwarf varieties that stay compact.

Ideal Climatic Conditions to Grow Citrus Plant

Citrus plants love warmth, sunlight, and steady conditions. When you grow them in a greenhouse, your goal is to mimic a mild, subtropical climate where they can grow actively without stress.

Getting the temperature, light, and humidity right makes all the difference in healthy growth and fruit production.

  • Temperature: Citrus trees prefer daytime temperatures between 65–85F. At night, try to keep it above 50F. Sudden drops in temperature can stress the plant, especially during flowering and fruiting.
  • Sunlight: They need at least 6–8 hours of bright light daily. A sunny greenhouse spot works best, and during darker months, supplemental grow lights can help maintain steady growth.
  • Humidity: Moderate humidity levels around 50–60% are ideal. Too much moisture can encourage fungal problems, while very dry air may cause leaf drop or poor fruit set.
  • Air Circulation: Good airflow is important to prevent pests and diseases. Use vents or small fans to keep fresh air moving without creating strong, cold drafts.
  • Frost Protection: Citrus plants are sensitive to frost. Even light frost can damage leaves and blossoms, so maintaining a stable, frost-free environment inside the greenhouse is essential.

How to Grow Citrus in a Greenhouse?

Growing citrus in a greenhouse gives you control over the environment, which makes a huge difference in plant health and fruit production.

With the right setup and a little consistency, you can enjoy steady growth, fragrant blossoms, and homegrown citrus almost year-round.

Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide to help you do it right.

1. Choose the Right Variety

Not all citrus trees grow the same way, so choosing the right variety is the first important step. In a greenhouse, compact or dwarf varieties are much easier to manage and maintain.

Dwarf lemons, limes, mandarins, and oranges adapt especially well to container growing. They stay smaller in size but still produce full-sized fruit.

Look for grafted plants from a reliable nursery. Grafted citrus tends to fruit earlier and grows more predictably compared to seed-grown plants.

Also Read: How to Grow Strawberries in Greenhouse?

2. Select a Suitable Container

Citrus plants grow best in containers that give their roots enough room to expand. Start with a pot that is large and sturdy, especially if you’re growing indoors or in a greenhouse.

Make sure the container has multiple drainage holes at the bottom. Citrus roots are sensitive to waterlogging, and poor drainage can quickly lead to root rot.

As the plant grows, you may need to repot it into a slightly larger container every few years. Gradual upsizing keeps the plant healthy without overwhelming it.

3. Use Well-Draining Soil

The soil mix you choose plays a major role in citrus health. These plants prefer loose, airy soil that drains quickly while still holding some moisture.

A mix of quality potting soil, perlite, and a bit of sand or bark works well. This combination improves drainage and prevents compacted roots.

Avoid heavy garden soil inside containers, as it can retain too much water. Good drainage encourages strong root development and steady growth.

4. Provide Plenty of Sunlight

Citrus trees love sunshine and need at least 6–8 hours of bright light daily. Position your plant in the sunniest part of your greenhouse.

If your region has short winter days, growth may slow down. In that case, adding supplemental grow lights can help maintain healthy foliage and flowering.

Rotate the pot occasionally so all sides receive equal light. This encourages balanced growth and prevents the plant from leaning toward one direction.

5. Maintain Consistent Temperature

Citrus plants thrive in warm, stable conditions. Try to keep greenhouse temperatures between 65–85F during the day.

At night, temperatures should stay above 50F. Sudden drops in temperature can stress the plant and affect flowering or fruit development.

Using a thermometer and simple greenhouse heater during colder months helps maintain a steady environment, especially in winter.

6. Water Properly

Citrus plants prefer deep watering but don’t like constantly wet soil. Allow the top 2–3 inches of soil to dry out before watering again.

When you water, do it thoroughly until excess drains from the bottom. This ensures the entire root system gets moisture.

Overwatering is one of the most common mistakes. Always check the soil first instead of watering on a fixed schedule.

7. Feed Regularly

Citrus trees are heavy feeders and require consistent nutrition to produce healthy leaves and fruit. Use a fertilizer specially formulated for citrus plants.

Feed during the active growing season, usually spring through early fall. This supports flowering, fruit set, and steady growth.

In winter, reduce feeding as growth slows down. Too much fertilizer during dormancy can stress the plant rather than help it.

8. Prune and Monitor

Light pruning helps maintain shape and improves air circulation inside the plant canopy. Remove any dead, weak, or crossing branches.

Pruning also encourages better light penetration, which improves fruit quality and overall plant health.

Keep an eye out for common greenhouse pests like aphids, spider mites, or whiteflies. Early detection makes treatment much easier and prevents bigger problems later.

Check this: DIY Wood Frame Greenhouse Plans

FAQs About Growing Citrus in a Greenhouse

1. Can citrus grow year-round in a greenhouse?

Yes, citrus can grow year-round if the greenhouse stays warm and bright. Growth may slow in winter, but the plant will stay healthy with stable conditions.

2. How long does it take for citrus to bear fruit?

Grafted citrus plants can start fruiting within 1–3 years. Seed-grown plants usually take much longer and are less predictable.

3. Do citrus plants need pollination in a greenhouse?

Most citrus varieties are self-pollinating. However, gently shaking the plant or hand-pollinating can improve fruit set indoors.

4. Why are my citrus leaves turning yellow?

Yellow leaves are often caused by overwatering or nutrient deficiencies. Check drainage first, then adjust feeding if needed.

5. Can I move my citrus plant outside in summer?

Yes, you can move it outdoors during warm months. Just acclimate it gradually to prevent shock from sudden sunlight exposure.

Also Read: 12 DIY Greenhouse PVC Plans to Build on a Budget

Conclusion

Growing citrus in a greenhouse is a smart way to enjoy fresh, homegrown fruit without worrying about unpredictable weather. By controlling temperature, light, and watering, you create the warm, stable environment citrus trees naturally thrive in.

With the right variety, proper care, and a little patience, your greenhouse can reward you with fragrant blossoms and juicy harvests year after year. It’s a simple setup that brings a touch of the tropics right into your backyard.

Fitness Resistance Band for Stretching and Yoga, Multifunction Tension Rope,8 Loops Elastic Exercise Bands,Adjustable Bands,for Full Body Stretching Shaping and Training

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Price: $12.99 - $9.99
(as of Feb 23, 2026 08:41:28 UTC – Details)


Fitness Resistance Band for Stretching and Yoga, Multifunction Tension Rope,8 Loops Elastic Exercise Bands,Adjustable Bands,for Full Body Stretching Shaping and Training,fitness resistance bands,numbered resistance band,numbered resistance bands for glutes,fitness resistance band for stretching and yoga,fitness resistance band,yoga resistance bands,number resistance band,fitness resistance bands with handles
【8-Section Adjustable Design】The adjustable design allows you to adjust the length and resistance to suit your needs.
【Comprehensive Training】Our resistance band effectively trains stretching, yoga, and strength training, helping to improve flexibility, strength, and agility.
【Anytime, Anywhere】Resistance bands require little space and are suitable for various locations, even in a cramped vehicle. You can choose to train lying down, standing, or sitting.
【Comfortable Handles】The resistance band comes with handles for a secure grip, reducing hand fatigue and achieving better training results.
【Convenient and Compact】This lightweight and portable resistance band easily fits into a gym bag without adding extra burden, making it ideal for exercising at home or while traveling.

Fitness Resistance Band for Stretching and Yoga, Number Stretch Resistance Band with Clear Markings, 8-Section Elastic Training Bands

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Price: $14.99
(as of Feb 22, 2026 20:39:45 UTC – Details)


Fitness Resistance Band for Stretching and Yoga, Number Stretch Resistance Band with Clear Markings, 8-Section Elastic Training Bands
【Versatile Resistance Band】Perfect for yoga, Pilates, stretching, and fitness training. This band helps improve flexibility, strength, and mobility for all fitness levels
【8-Section Adjustable Resistance】Features clear numeric markings, allowing you to track your progress and adjust the resistance easily for different exercises and intensity levels
【Comfortable & Easy to Use】Made from high-quality elastic material, this band provides optimal stretch without compromising comfort
【All-in-One Application】Suitable for full-body training. Ideal for both men and women, it serves as an essential tool for home fitness, professional support, and overall workout enhancement
【Portable & Compact】Lightweight and easy to carry, it is the ideal portable device for travel, office or home workouts – for effective training anytime, anywhere

Your Spring Garden Checklist to Start the Season Strong

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Plant Summer Bulbs

While spring flowering bulbs are planted in fall, most summer flowering bulbs are typically planted in mid-spring.

A close up vertical image of gladiolus and lily flowers growing in the spring garden.
Photo by Lorna Kring.

Once all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures start warming up, plant out varieties such as agapanthus, begonia, calla lily, canna lily, dahlia, gladiolus, and ranunculus for an abundance of late summer flowers.

Plant into humus-rich soil with a sprinkling of bone meal to support fast root growth for all summer flowering bulbs, corms, and rhizomes.

Set Out Supports

For climbing vines like honeysuckle and clematis, twining vegetables such as beans and peas, or erect perennials with top-heavy flowers like some dahlias and peonies, mid-spring is the best time to set out support systems.

A close up horizontal image of a row of bean plants growing in dark, rich soil.A close up horizontal image of a row of bean plants growing in dark, rich soil.

Before new growth kicks into high gear, set into place and install supports such as lattices, netting, trellises, obelisks, stakes, poles, and so on.

As plants bud and grow, attach them to their supports with plant clips, twine, or garden velcro.

Sow Cool Season Vegetables

Once the weather improves enough to work the soil in vegetable beds, loosen, till, and amend it with organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure.

Create furrows, hills, or trenches as needed then sow the cool season crops that enjoy warm days and cool nights.

A close up horizontal image of kale growing in a terra cotta pot outdoors.A close up horizontal image of kale growing in a terra cotta pot outdoors.
Photo by Lorna Kring.

Cool season crops include lettuce and leafy greens such as arugula, bok choy, collards, kale, mustard, spinach, and Swiss chard, plus English or snow peas.

Some root vegetables like beets, carrots, onions, potatoes, turnips, and radishes also prefer an early planting, as do Brassica varieties like broccoli, brussels sprouts, and cabbage.

The seeds can be directly sown into cool soils. Spinach can germinate in soil temperatures as low as 35°F, but most cool season vegetables need soil in the range of 40 to 50°F for germination.

Start Summer Vegetables Indoors

Unless you have long summers, many annual vegetables that need hot temperatures and a long growing season are best started indoors then transplanted out when conditions are right.

A close up horizontal image of trays of summer vegetable seedlings growing under grow lights.A close up horizontal image of trays of summer vegetable seedlings growing under grow lights.
Photo by Lorna Kring.

This early start indoors lets you get a jump on the growing season and allows crops to fully mature before cold weather returns.

Four to eight weeks before the last frost, sow seeds in flats or trays for vegetables and fruits such as celery, cucumbers, eggplant, fennel, leeks, melons, peppers, tomatoes, and winter squash.

Place trays in a warm location with temperatures of 65 to 75°F, using a bottom heating mat and/or grow lights if needed.

Remove Protective Covers

After all danger of frost has passed, remove protective winter covers to improve air circulation, keep mold in check, and prevent early bud burst as a result of warming temperatures.

A horizontal image of a garden at the end of winter with a rose bush covered in frost cloth.A horizontal image of a garden at the end of winter with a rose bush covered in frost cloth.

Carefully remove burlap from conifers, shrubs, rose bushes, and other perennials.

Lift cloches and floating row covers from containers, planters, and vegetable beds. 

Open up cold frames to start hardening off the likes of carrots, leeks, and salad greens.

Remove covers on a cloudy day to avoid shock from sudden exposure to strong sunshine.

And don’t wait too long to remove the covers – warm spring temperatures can easily become hot in an enclosed environment, causing serious damage to plants.

Late Season

By late spring, the garden’s bursting with lush new growth and early flowers. But there are still some tasks to take care of before the busy summer season is underway.

Deadhead Early Flowering Bulbs

As summer draws nearer, it’s time to clean up the early flowering bulbs by deadheading spent blooms.

A close up horizontal image of a gardener's hands from the left of the frame using pruners to deadhead daffodils in the spring garden.A close up horizontal image of a gardener's hands from the left of the frame using pruners to deadhead daffodils in the spring garden.

Deadheading prevents seeds from forming, concentrating the energy from photosynthesis into developing big, healthy bulbs to produce ample flowers next year.

Once the blooms of early bulbs like crocus, daffodils, grape hyacinths, hyacinths, snowdrops, and tulips are spent and papery, snip them off with clean, sharp garden shears a couple of inches down on the flower stem.

However, only the spent flowers should be removed.

Leave the foliage in place for energy production and allow it to die back naturally – by early summer, the dry brown leaves are easy to clean up.

Direct Sow Annual Flowers, Herbs, and Summer Vegetables

During the latter part of spring, annual flowers and warm season vegetables can be sown directly into the garden.

A close up vertical image of paper seed packets set on dark soil with seeds spilling out.A close up vertical image of paper seed packets set on dark soil with seeds spilling out.

Summer varieties need warm soil temperatures of 60°F and above to germinate, sprout, and thrive – in cool, wet soil, many annuals are prone to mold and damping off.

Once soil temperatures are warm enough, clean, till, and amend the soil in selected beds or containers then sow seeds of annual flowers and vegetables.

Include flowers such as ageratum, bachelor’s button, calendula, cleome, cosmos, marigold, nasturtium, sunflower, sweet alyssum, and zinnia.

Plus herbs and vegetables such as basil, beans, celery, coriander, corn, dill, lettuce, scallions, summer savory, and summer squash.

Late spring is also the time to transplant vegetables started indoors like cucumber, eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes.

Sow successive plantings of early season crops such as beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, chard, kale, onions, and spinach.

Paint or Stain Hardscape Elements

Hardscape elements made of wood or metal, such as arbors, benches, decks, fences, trellises, patios, planters, and so on are subject to weathering and require regular maintenance to keep up their good looks and for protection from the elements.

A close up horizontal image of a hand from the right of the frame using a paintbrush to oil a wooden fence outdoors.A close up horizontal image of a hand from the right of the frame using a paintbrush to oil a wooden fence outdoors.

Once the weather’s warm enough – and before summer’s heat arrives – paint or stain hardscape structures.

Assemble components, sand and clean the surfaces of metal or wood structures as needed and allow them to dry thoroughly before coating surfaces.

Start the Season Strong

Once winter ends, the gardening itch strikes hard – and our spring garden checklist gets you going even before the weather warms up!

In early spring, start the season strong by using your journal to create a timeline for all your spring garden tasks.

A close up horizontal image of a butterfly on purple flowers pictured in light spring sunshine on a soft focus background.A close up horizontal image of a butterfly on purple flowers pictured in light spring sunshine on a soft focus background.

Then address maintenance like dividing perennials and pruning fruit canes before new growth gets in the way.

In mid-spring, lift protective covers and set up trellises. Then get your hands dirty by direct sowing cold weather veggies and summer bulbs, and start warm season vegetables indoors.

Late spring is the time for sowing annual flowers, herbs, and vegetables, adding a lick of paint, and tidying up the early bulbs.

After that, all that’s left is a little feeding, weeding, and watering – and plenty of time to enjoy your pretty, productive landscape!

What are some of your must-do tasks for the spring garden? Let us know in the comments section below.

And for more organizational know-how, add these guides to your reading list next: