Allowing the foliage of your waning daffodils to decompose is an important springtime duty.

Just as surely as the sun rises and sets every day, every spring there is another phenomenon we can count on. It's almost as if an unspoken message inserts itself into our brains. We have a few days of balmy temperatures and see a few green sprigs on the branches of trees. Redbuds are showing color, and daffodils have been teasing us. Sounds of lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and electric trimmers fill the air. Folks rush to their favorite garden centers in the pursuit of color. Seeds ordered from catalogs arrive in the mail. We just know our gardens are going to live up to the pictures we've had in our heads on cold, dreary days. Then, we actually look at the calendar and realize that maybe, just maybe, we are rushing into things. Spring equinox is actually March 20. However, our area is known for late-spring frosts. What's a frustrated gardener to do? Rest assured, dear readers, that your to-do list in an early spring garden is long indeed.

Too early for annuals
While it is still too early to plant many of our favorite annuals, it's prime time for violas, pansies, and snapdragons. These plants prefer cooler temperatures and require little care. Acquiring a few of these hard-working lovelies from your favorite garden center is easy. If you already have them in your garden, they might look a tad sad. Don't be discouraged. Give them a good, thorough deadheading. If they've gotten leggy, cut them back. In a few weeks, you'll be amazed at their renewed vigor.

	Left: Some seeds can be sown directly in the ground. Others require indoor germination. Read the seed packet instructions before you plant.	Below: Sunflowers are one of the easiest flowers to start from seed. They come in a tremendous range of heights and colors. A bouquet of cut sunflowers is always a cheerful sight.

Some of the bulbs you planted last fall may be either ready to bloom or have finished blooming. If the latter, cut the main flower stalk down to ground level. Foliage should be allowed to remain until it turns yellow. Decaying foliage provides nutrients for next year's flowers.

If you're just itching to get your hands dirty, consider starting your vegetable garden. It's the perfect time to plant cool crops like lettuces, radishes, cabbage, kale, collards, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. "Starters" should be readily available at most garden and home centers. It's important to remember, though, that the little plants may be coming from an indoor environment and require protection from wind and too much sun for the first week or so. All plants should be hardened off (gradually introduced to the outdoors) before they're left to fend for themselves. Many flowers and vegetables require a long growing season before flowering or fruiting, and starting them indoors will give them a head start. It is important that you heed the instructions on each seed packet.

Some seeds lend themselves to starting in the ground where you want them to grow. Beans, corn, melons, and squash perform wonderfully well when direct-sown. Flower seeds such as cosmos, zinnias, marigolds, sunflowers, and nasturtiums are a few that you can sow directly in the ground.

Earthworms are your friends. They loosen the soil, and their excrement provides rich organic food for your plants.

Soil prep
Most of us have piles of leaves that have accumulated over the winter. If you haven't done so already, gently brush leaves away from your perennials, bulbs, and other plantings to allow sunlight to reach them. Instead of bagging leaves and having them hauled away (or burning them), use them as mulch, till them into your gardens, and/or begin a compost heap. Leaves provide a marvelous source of nutrients and are a free fertilizer! Soil preparation is the most important component of success in gardening.

Spring isn't the time to fertilize lawns. If you use a mulching lawn mower, you can eliminate the need for one lawn fertilization per year! Trees and bulbs don't need additional fertilization when they're planted. If your soil has been properly amended, you're good to go. What happens below the ground has an enormous effect on what you see above the ground. Having your soil tested is a crucial step to understanding your garden's needs.

Finally, make this the year that you start keeping a garden journal. Use plant markers as you plant. Take a moment to give some care and maintenance to your trowels, shovels, rakes, pruners, and power equipment (see sidebar). Get them ready for the new season by cleaning them and oiling them down. It's a good idea to wipe them with rubbing alcohol to remove some of the unwanted spores and organisms that may have lingered.

Don't you feel better now? You can get out and get dirty, knowing that you'll be armed and ready when spring truly arrives. But remember, around here our spring is short-lived, and summer comes on fast, hot, and long. Relax. Take a moment to reflect on past gardening mistakes and realize that one of the blessings of gardening is that, along with the seasons, we can change!

Advice — Spring Cleanup Pointers and Fun Things to Know • A handful of soil from your garden holds more living organisms than there are humans on Earth. Their well-being determines the health of your garden and of this planet. • Soil with earthworms is not only richer than soil without them, but the higher the number of earthworms per square foot, the faster the absorption rate of water—up to 60 times faster. • Compost, and be judicious in the use of chemicals. • To find out if your soil is ready to be worked, take a handful and compress it. If it forms a sodden lump, it's too wet. If it's soft and crumbly, it's ready to be turned and tilled. • Keeping a gardening journal helps you avoid past sins and mistakes. • Using markers to label what you've planted will help you keep it all straight. • Never plant more than you can care for. • Watering for ten minutes in the early morning does more good than watering for an hour in the afternoon. • When mulching around a tree, use composted materials. • Mulching around your plants conserves soil moisture, prevents erosion, and protects the root ball against freezing. However, don't apply mulch too deeply or too closely to the base of plants. It can suffocate the roots and provide a breeding ground for diseases.

Advice — Keeping Your Garden Tools In Tiptop Condition • According to George Everett, of Everett Mechanics, "we should make sure our power equipment, such as leaf blowers, lawn mowers, tillers, etc., have fresh gas and oil and new air filters." Drain gas and/or oil left in equipment over winter and dispose of it properly. Gas stations are a source for disposal, as are landfills/ transfer stations in Henrico, Chesterfield, and Powhatan. Make sure all moving parts on equipment are well lubricated with 3-in-1 oil or WD40. Eco-friendly vegetable oil may also be used. • Lawn mower blades should be sharpened and balanced by a professional. • Mulching lawn mowers should have the blades sharpened and balanced twice per season. For lighter use, once per season is satisfactory. Oil changes should occur every 20-25 hours of use. • Hand tools benefit from a little scrubbing, using steel wool and vegetable oil. A bit of rubbing alcohol helps to remove unwanted spores and other organisms. • Never borrow a garden tool unless you know how to use it; never use it unless you know how to take care of it.