GRACEYN KITCHEL

By GRACEYN KITCHEL

8-18 Media

Special to the Journal

Spring is in the air and summer is on the way, so in honor of that, here are some ways to get ready for the new seasons.

I love to get ready for the gardening year, and sometimes the plants I plant bloom late or don’t have enough time to mature before winter falls again. So I like to start some of my plants inside so they are ready to grow outside when winter is over.

Supplies:

• Plastic trays ( depending on the size of the seed, you can also use empty egg cartons )

• Potting soil

• Seeds or bulbs of your choice

• Newspaper (optional)

How to do it:

• First if you are going to be doing this inside, spread a newspaper onto your work surface and put all your supplies on top.

• Next, if your potting soil is not wet, add water until it is damp, but not soggy. You should be able to take a handful and squeeze it without water dripping out from your hands.

• Take the soil and spread it over your trays. Do not pack the dirt in tightly, this does not allow oxygen to be provided, which is not good for your start roots. You should only lightly press it down.

• Next, use your finger to make a hole in the soil of the tray cell. Depending on how big the seed is, you will need to make a bigger or smaller hole.

• Put your seed in and cover it with dirt. Lightly pack down and put the tray(s) in a warm, dry place with a healthy supply of sunlight.

• You will want to keep the trays damp but not super wet. You can use a watering can with a narrow end to water individual cells, or use a spray can to mist them all every few days.

• You can plant your starters in pots or your garden when they have sprouted out of the ground and have a few open leaves, and when the snow is finally gone.

You may be like me and you like a fresh-looking lawn for the spring and summer. You may have the itch to rake, trim bushes and trees, and maybe even mow. Some of these things are harmful to hibernating insects such as bees, moths, and larvae of various species. Here are some ways to get ready for spring without harming the environment:

• Plan ahead, most pollinators seek the shelter of fallen leaves and debris so before they start settling down, move (with hands, not a rake so as not to harm any already sleeping insects) leaves into piles in your yard or to kill two birds with one stone, around any bushes or trees that you want to protect during the winter months. This encourages insects to go where you want them to go, and you should be good to rake your yard when spring does come.

• If you have to rake, do so lightly. This gives the pollinators less of a chance of being impaled.

• Do not mow your lawn!!! This will kill 99.9% of insects, and those who survive probably won’t be in good shape.

• Another thing to keep in mind is patience. If you can wait until the days are consistently about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Most of the hibernating insects should be awake. After that time, you are good to rake and mow as much as you want!

If you live in the Marquette region, I encourage you to buy your seeds locally (I like the co-op). Help your neighbors get ready for spring too, and enjoy the sunshine!

Graceyn Kitchel is a thirteen-year-old homeschooler who enjoys reading to their cat and dog, gardening, jiu jitsu, running, and having sword fights with their friends. They like to cook all types of food, specifically Italian fettuccine (fet-i-chi-nee) in honor of their family heritage.