Springtime gardening tips for the Northwest

Spring is always a good time to renew and freshen up your landscape.

Cut down anything that has stood over the winter, gently rake away fallen debris, and clean up the dead stuff that has built up over the winter.

Using organic slug bait early in the season when the slugs are still young can help reduce the damage caused by these pests throughout the year.

Healthy soil is the basis for the entire garden. Plants need water, oxygen, and food, and the soil delivers these to the plants.

Mulching is a good way to control weeds. It helps to keep the soil covered and prevent weed seeds from germinating.

No, gardening can happen year-round. There are plants that can be beautiful in almost every month of the year, even in the Northwest.

A satisfying garden is one that is interesting to look at year-round, with winter flowering shrubs, early spring flowering plants, beautiful mid-summer flowers, and fall colors.