5 Proactive Tips for Spring Garden Success
Published: February 14, 2026 | By: Emilee Warne
It's been a colder-than-normal winter here in Central North Carolina, and I don't know about you, but I'm so ready for temperatures to warm up so I can see my garden again! It's almost Valentine's Day, but I'm not feeling the love from Mother Nature yet! But no matter whether you're seeing snow, rain, or even having warmer-than-average winter temperatures, this is a GREAT time to plan for your upcoming growing season. So, pull out those seed catalogs, notepads, garden journals, and almanacs — let's dream big about what this year could look like.
Let's talk for a minute about what we don't want this next gardening season to look like: Weeds and pests out of control, yellowing and weak plants, favorite fruits/veggies with poor/no yield, or poor overall garden planning. These are the struggles we all face in the height of summer.That's why I suggest adding some preventative planning this year, because as the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!” This Valentine's season, show your plants some love before the challenge even begins.
Winter's beauty lies in the fresh start it offers gardeners while everything is dormant. Mother Nature grants us the gift of patience while we wait for soil temperatures to rise and warmer days to slowly start to edge out the cold nights. But once we hit that magical USDA zone-hardiness spring date where temperatures no longer dip below freezing, it’s off to the races for gardeners like us! However, if you haven’t made a plan, the heat of the summer puts a damper on your growing season just as you should be hitting your peak. So, instead of keeping the zone hardiness date as the start of your season, begin with the day of love itself. This Valentine’s Day, make your plan to work smarter to achieve the beautiful aesthetics, abundant edibles, and garden goals you are hoping to see this season!
Here are some know-before-you-grow tips to get started on right now to prepare for the best possible outcomes this growing season!
1. Select/start your seeds.
Whether you collected seeds from last year's garden, ordered some from your favorite seed company, or simply impulse-bought a packet at the grocery store, seeds can be started now! To start indoors, sow seeds in cell packs using a good, light-weight seed-starter soil. A heat mat and grow lights are usually necessary for the optimum light and soil temperature to get the seeds to sprout indoors. After they have sprouted and you see 1-2 sets of true leaves, set the seedlings out on warm days for 1-2 hours at a time, gradually increasing to acclimate the seedlings and avoid damping off. Once the seedlings have acclimated, are a couple inches tall, and the average last frost date has passed, you are ready for transplanting outdoors!
2. Prune in early spring.
This is ideal, especially for fruit trees and shrubs. Prune mainly dead limbs or crossing branches in fruit-bearing trees/shrubs. Prune back weak limbs of spur-bearing fruit like apples or pears so the branches won't get too heavy and break with fruit set. Thin out interior branches of peach/plum trees to open up the tree canopy to as much light as possible to produce large, healthy fruit. Hold off on pruning flowering evergreens like rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, and loropetalum until after they've bloomed in the spring.
3. Make (and stick to) a garden plan.
Either draw out on paper (to scale if possible!) or lay out garden box dimensions/ planting bed lines on the ground so you can really visualize how your new space will work. Give walking areas at least 3’ of space to not feel too cramped and for easy garden tool and wheelbarrow access. And please, decide which plants you will purchase before you head to the local nursery or plant sale! This may take some time and research, but will pay out great dividends to you in the long run. Gardeners (like me) are notorious for going to the garden center and finding something they can't live without but have no place to put it, so it languishes in its pot for months (or more…?!) Not only that, but I can't tell you the number of times I've seen a huge tree planted right next to the foundation of a small house because of poor or no planning. Take the time to choose the correct plants for the space you have. Check mature size (height/width), light needs (full sun/shade), and stagger bloom/fruiting times etc so you can have garden interest/food production throughout the growing season for optimal results.
4. Plan pest and weed management proactively.
The dormant season is perfect for beginning your ounce of prevention — that is worth a pound of cure! Lay down weed barrier, refresh mulch, and consider using a pre-emergent herbicide application (generally before soil temperatures hit about 55°F to prevent crabgrass and other weed seeds from germinating). Plan to apply fungicides now before fruiting trees/bushes begin to bloom. Know your host plants for bug pests. Know your problem areas where deer/voles/gophers have been entering/making burrows into your garden. Proactively plant new plants in gopher/vole- resistant baskets and use netting or repellents for deer.
5. Set up a reliable water source.
Even if rain seems reliable in your area, have a watering system in place. Water is non-negotiable! Rain barrels are my top choice for being proactive in providing water. Rainwater is naturally soft, free of salts and pollutants, slightly acidic, and contains bioavailable nitrates for a gentle nitrogen boost. This creates an excellent flush for plants in the ground, pots, or raised beds. In drier climates, you will need an irrigation system. Creating a combination of spray heads for grass/groundcovers and drip irrigation for trees and shrubs can help you most efficiently manage this precious resource. Don't get caught hauling buckets of water out to your dwindling plants in the peak of summer heat!
This year, my personal gardening challenge is to stay proactive, not reactive. A garden is truly a labor of love. Let's use this month to prepare thoughtfully — so our dreams can flourish beautifully. Time to get out there and start planning!
What are your big gardening goals for this growing season? Share in the comments — I'd love to hear!