Spring Equinox

Thu. Mar. 19, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Spring Equinox

Happy Vernal Equinox!  That’s a funny word, vernal.  The word means ‘fresh’ or ‘new’ and related to Spring.  Many gardeners on my Facebook page commented that their favorite season is Spring.

Starflower ‘Blue Spring’ by Breck’s

 The first time we get our hands in the soil again and smell the Earth!  Equinox means equal night. The Equinox doesn’t “officially” until 10:50 tonight, central time. That’s still TODAY, so the celebrations can start early! I’m thinking happy dance… my neighbors are used to it!

Frost depths vary but they AREN’T nearly as deep as last year! Right now, for 2020, the deepest is about a foot with some areas at 6 inches! Check this link from the National Weather Service frost depths.

 I know the urge is strong to get out in the yard and do SOMETHING, but working wet soil will pack soil particles tightly together leaving less room for air and water to penetrate.  Two very important ingredients to plant production!

wet soil

Those dirt clods you create become hard as rocks and are nearly impossible to break up. If you compact your soil like that it takes years of adding organic matter to try to recreate the healthy soil your plants love.

dirt clods

So hold tight until things dry out… you CAN cut back your perennials though…

bleeding heart spring shoots