Maine’s growing season arrives; gardeners urged to refresh soil before planting

The growing season has arrived in Maine, so it’s time to grab the shovels and start planting.

“Your veggies, herbs, perennials, your annuals, kind of across the board, it’s safe to put those in at this point,” says Grace Frost, the Operations Manager for Highland Farms.

It all starts with good soil health, that’s the foundation to a thriving garden.

“Whether your soil is a little older and you need to add in kind a little refresh of compost or maybe topping off your planters with some potting soil, or topping off your raised beds. Refilling that out and refreshing it for the season before popping anything else in will help give you a good footing for that planting.”

Removing any weeds from the soil is also important.

And grace says it’s a good idea to fertilize your garden in the spring when you’re initially planting to give them a jump start into the season.

As the growing season arrives in Maine, it’s important to take the necessary steps for a successful season. (WGME)

“A lot of the synthetic fertilizers, you can overdo it with them butted and those can burn the plants if you overapply. But organic fertilizers, usually those will be the brown liquids or the slow-release are built to slowly release, and they’re a little less harsh on the plants.”

Also, adding a layer of mulch on top of your garden bed has many benefits.

“Other than the weed suppression, it also helps to keep your garden beds stay cool in the summer. So it keeps the roots of your plants from cooking in the hot, hot heat. And then it helps with moisture retention, too.”

As the growing season arrives in Maine, it’s important to take the necessary steps for a successful season. (WGME)

You’ll want to make sure your plants have enough water as well, so it’s a good idea to check the moisture in your soil often.