Want to go from garden newbie to plant boss? Here are 3 no-fail strategies to help you grow like a pro this spring:

1. Better Late Than Early

It’s tempting to plant as soon as the sun’s out—but hold off! Waiting just 2 extra weeks can mean the difference between frostbite and fast growth.

Pro tip: Split your seeds and test it—plant half now, half later, and compare at the end of the season.

Not sure when to start? The Farmer’s Almanac has a 2025 planting guide based on your postal code (thank you internet gods ).

2. Layout Matters
Tall plants go on the north, short ones on the south—this way, everyone gets their fair share of sun.

Also: spacing is everything. Don’t cram your babies in! Use string dividers and this free website to plan out space for 71 different veggies. It’s a game-changer.

3. Stop Weeds Before They Start

Weeding = back pain.
Instead, lay cardboard on the soil + 5–10 cm of mulch. No weeds, happy worms, healthy soil.
No cardboard? Just make sure no bare dirt is showing. Even grass clippings or dry leaves can help block weeds from taking over.