It’s time to prepare your garden to plant cannabis
It’s time for home growers to start planning how they’re going to prepare, plant and care for their cannabis plants this year. Though it may still be a little bit early to be thinking about putting seeds or plants in the ground, the weather and timing are perfect to start getting things ready for the season.
In this article, we're going to go over some of the reasons why it's best to start prepping your garden early and highlight five key steps to complete before you start planting cannabis.
Why preparing your garden now is so important
The earlier you start working on turning your garden into a space that’s ideal for cultivation, the better. If you want to enjoy the spoils of a successful harvest, it’s best not to rush this process. Getting a head start allows you plenty of time to:
Test your soil - Testing the soil in your garden can help you figure out if any amendments need to be added to the mix. Since cannabis plants require specific nutrients and conditions to be healthy and produce well, knowing the nutrient content and pH levels of your soil is essential.
Make a plan - Planning how your garden will look by making notes for things like spacing ensures you have enough room and suitable conditions to properly nurture cannabis plants.
Address existing pests – Some invaders can cause massive issues for your cannabis plants if they aren’t removed so it’s best to start this process as soon as possible, so you have time to plan and implement effective management strategies to protect your crop for the entirety of the season.
Get rid of and prevent - Weeds generally don’t cause too much trouble until they overtake your cannabis garden. So taking the steps now to remove them and prevent the growth of new ones can save you both time and effort later in the summer.
Stock up on supplies - Preparing early gives you a chance to take note of your current inventory, to ensure you have all of the tools and supplies you’ll need which may include things like soil amendments, or fertilizers.
Key steps to getting your garden ready to plant cannabis
Clean up your garden – Start by removing any unwanted debris or dead plant materials from last year to prevent pests, diseases and mold from taking over your crop.
Amend the soil – Based on your soil test results, it might be a good idea to add some amendments to your garden, to ensure your plants have plenty of access to all of the wonderful nutrients they might need throughout the season.
Plan your layout and make room – Now is the time to decide where you want to plant your cannabis and to do that you’ll need to find out how much room each one will need to avoid overcrowding. Be sure that your garden has adequate sunlight, and make the plot bigger if your crop requires more space.
Preparing an ideal environment for cannabis is essential to succeed. By testing the soil, planning a sufficient layout, addressing preexisting pest issues, dealing with weeds, and getting your supplies in order, you'll be well on your way to a healthy and bountiful yield when it’s finally time to harvest!
