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Spring Gardening in Utah: Your Essential To-Do List
Spring has officially arrived across Utah—and if you’re itching to get outside, you’re not alone. After an unusual warm and dry winter, this is the most important season to set your garden up for success.
With ongoing drought conditions and increasing water restrictions across the state, smart, water-wise gardening isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.
Let’s walk through exactly what to do right now 👇
✅ Your Utah Spring Garden To-Do List
1. Prep Your Soil First (This Changes Everything)
Utah soils are often clay-heavy or sandy—both need improvement.
What to do:
Add compost or organic matter
Loosen compacted soil
Top with mulch to retain moisture
💡 Healthy soil = less watering, fewer problems, stronger plants
2. Apply Mulch Early (Your Secret Weapon)
Mulch is one of the most powerful tools for Utah gardeners.
Benefits:
Reduces water use by up to 50%
Suppresses weeds
Protects soil from heat
Builds healthy soil over time
👉 You can find high-quality mulch, bark, and rock at Woodstuff Landscape Supplies—a go-to resource for water-wise landscaping materials.
🎉 Spring Special:
Use code BLOOM10 for 10% off mulch and rock products
(Excludes flagstone & specialty products. Expires April 30, 2026.)
3. Start Planting Cool-Season Crops
As soon as your soil is workable, start planting:
Lettuce
Spinach
Peas
Radishes
Broccoli
💡 These crops thrive in cooler temps and give you an early harvest.
4. Check Your Irrigation System
Before the heat hits:
Check for leaks or broken lines
Switch to drip irrigation if possible
Adjust timers for spring conditions
💧 Efficient watering now prevents waste all summer.
5. Plant Water-Wise & Native Plants
Skip thirsty plants and choose:
Native species
Drought-tolerant perennials
Pollinator-friendly flowers
These plants:
✔ Require less water
✔ Support beneficial insects
✔ Thrive in Utah’s climate
6. Control Weeds Before They Take Over
Early action saves hours later.
Pull weeds when small
Add mulch to block new growth
Avoid letting weeds go to seed
7. Plan Your Garden Layout (Water-Wise Design)
Think ahead before planting everything.
Group plants with similar water needs
Use drip zones
Add pathways, rock, or mulch to reduce turf
💡 This is how you build a low-maintenance, drought-resistant garden
🌿 Local Tip for Utah Gardeners
Many areas in Utah are already seeing water restrictions and rising costs. Gardens that rely on mulch, drip irrigation, and drought-tolerant plants will save you money—and stress—all season long.
🌼 Want Help Designing Your Garden?
We’re working on more water-wise garden plans, local plant guides, and landscape layouts tailored specifically to Utah and the Mountain West.
👉 Stay tuned—and start with the basics above to build a thriving, resilient garden this spring.
🏡 Where to Get Quality Mulch in Utah County
For local gardeners, Woodstuff Landscape Supply is one of the best sources for high-quality mulch and landscape materials. Receive 10% off Mulch and Rock Products. See Discount Code Below!
They offer:
Bulk mulch options (better value than bagged)
A variety of textures and colors
Convenient pickup for homeowners and contractors
Everything you need in one stop—soil, rock, bark, and more
If you’re planning to refresh your beds this season, it’s worth stopping by and seeing the options in person.
Woodstuff Landscape Supply
955 S 1950 W Springville Utah 84663
(801) 489-4777
Must Show Ad Discount Code at Purchase!
📏 How to Apply Mulch (Quick Guide)
For best results:
Apply 3–4 inches deep
Keep mulch a few inches away from plant stems and tree trunks
Install over moist soil (water first, then mulch)
Pair with drip irrigation for maximum efficiency
Landscape fabric is discouraged
Happy Gardening!
Ramona
Bloom Gardens www.bloomgardens.org
A Desert Garden That Grew Organically
Some gardens begin with a carefully drawn plan. Frank’s garden began with curiosity.
A longtime Southern Utah resident, Frank has always been fascinated by desert plants — the kinds that quietly thrive in the harsh beauty of the desert landscape. Over the years, he began experimenting with growing them himself, collecting seeds, propagating plants, and learning which varieties could adapt to the unique soils and climate of the region.
“I’ve always been interested in growing desert plants,” Frank explains. “Some of them are surprisingly hard to grow. They’re very specific about altitude, climate, soil, and water.”
What began as a hobby slowly turned into something more.
April Tips & Checklist
Plant seeds of cool-season vegetables (peas, lettuce, spinach, radishes) as soon as garden soil is workable.
Check out over 55 vegetable and herb fact sheets produced by USU Extension.
Consider planting peas in the garden every 2-3 weeks (until early May) to extend the harvest.
Control young garden weeds by hoeing or hand-pulling.
Protect fruit blossoms and tender garden plants from late critical freezing temperatures.
If storing bulbs, check to make sure they are firm, and remove any that are soft or rotten.
Wait to prune roses until buds begin to swell to avoid late-frost damage to new growth.
Prune spring flowering shrubs (those that bloom before June) after they have bloomed to encourage new flower buds for next season.
Divide crowded, fall-blooming perennials.
Divide cool-season ornamental grasses when new growth begins to emerge.
Apply chelated iron (FeEDDHA) to plants that have had prior problems with iron chlorosis.
Use organic mulches (wood chips or bark) to retain soil moisture around shrubs and trees.
Plant a tree to celebrate National Arbor Day. The USU Tree Browser offers an interactive list of tree species adapted to the Intermountain West.
Apply pre-emergent herbicides in late March to mid-April to control annual weeds in the lawn, such as crabgrass and spurge.
Learn about lawn care and planting new lawns.
In compacted sites, aerate with a hollow core aerator when turfgrass is actively growing, usually from April to June.
Check your sprinkler system for leaks. Clean filters, and fix and align heads.
Pests and Problems:
Download the Utah Home Orchard Pest Management Guide.
Reduce chemical use to help promote beneficial insects in your landscape.
Treat for coryneum blight in stone fruits (cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots and plums) at shuck split, approximately 10 days after flower petals drop.
Treat apples for powdery mildew when leaves are emerging (at 1/2 inch green) until June.
Monitor wet weather during bloom in apples, pears, and hawthorns to determine if treatment for fire blight is needed.
Treat fruit trees for cat-facing insects, like stink bugs, to prevent dimples and pucker marks in fruit.
Use preventative controls for peach twig borer in peaches, nectarines, and apricots to help reduce twig and fruit damage later in the season.
Control spring-flying bark beetles in pine trees and other conifers.
Watch for Cutworm damage in turfgrass and new vegetable starts.
