🌱 Spring Garden Prep Checklist (Zone 7)

Use this checklist as a guide—not a race. Tackle what applies to your garden and your season.

❄️ Late Winter (February–Early March)

☐ Review last year’s garden notes
☐ Check average last frost date for your area
☐ Inventory seeds (note what needs replacing)
☐ Clean, sharpen, and oil garden tools
☐ Order seeds and garden supplies
☐ Start cold-hardy seeds indoors (onions, leeks, brassicas)
☐ Prune dormant fruit trees and berry bushes
☐ Plan garden layout and crop rotation

🌷 Early Spring (March)

☐ Check soil moisture (avoid working wet soil)
☐ Clear dead or diseased plant debris from beds
☐ Add compost to garden beds
☐ Lightly loosen soil if compacted
☐ Pull mulch back to help soil warm
☐ Set up trellises, fencing, and supports
☐ Direct sow cold-hardy crops (peas, spinach, radishes)
☐ Begin hardening off cold-hardy seedlings

🌼 Mid-Spring (April)

☐ Monitor nighttime temperatures and frost risk
☐ Transplant brassicas and onions outdoors
☐ Direct sow carrots, beets, and lettuce
☐ Water seedlings consistently but lightly
☐ Reapply mulch once soil warms
☐ Check irrigation or hose setup
☐ Protect plants from late frosts if needed

🌞 Late Spring (May – After Last Frost)

☐ Confirm soil temperatures are warm enough
☐ Transplant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash)
☐ Direct sow beans, cucumbers, and corn
☐ Mulch beds to retain moisture
☐ Set up cages, stakes, and supports
☐ Begin regular garden observations and journaling

🌿 Final Reminder

☐ Take a deep breath
☐ Celebrate what you’ve planted
☐ Remember: progress matters more than perfection