The first official day of spring is coming up, and we know you gardeners are getting anxious! While the ground may still be pretty solid in northern states, there are still a few things you can do while you wait for the warm temperatures to thaw it. These include:

1. Before you plant anything, clean up your garden – get rid of dead leaves, dead stalks, and cut back any overgrown plants.

2. Do some fertilizing to repair the damage that the winter may have caused to some of your plants.

3. Now is a great time to plant your shrubs, trees, and any other plants that will bloom in early summer. Just make sure to fertilize them well and insulate them with mulch.

4. Water your flowerbeds enough so that they are saturated at least 6 inches into the ground, then till your soil (if you didn’t in the fall).

5. Prune your fruit trees to increase their flowers come spring/summer.

6. Coat your gardening area with pest repellent to get rid of any pests or eggs that have built up over the winter months.

7. Plant some early, hearty vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, horseradish, turnips, and rhubarb.

8. Weed your garden a little at a time, then cover with mulch to prevent new ones from growing. You’ll be thankful when you go to plant the rest of your spring selections.

9. Prune out the remainder of trunks and branches that have been fed on by rabbits or other small animals.

10. Inspect your perennials. If any of the plants are pushing out of the ground, gently push it back in to keep roots intact.