I love the spring—one day it’s gloomy, bleak and cloudy, the next we wake to a warm breeze, blue skies and birds singing. As I’m sure you are well aware by now, I love my yard and garden, but I just don’t have the time I’d like to devote to it. I try to express my thoughts as I feel thousands of my fellow Western Pennsylvanians would appreciate.

But before we discuss our plan of action for 2006, lets briefly recap what we discussed in last spring's issue—the care of your lawnmower.

Last spring we discussed the importance of a well cared for lawnmower, and I felt it was important to touch on it again. Remember to remove and clean the air filter just as you do for you car when changing its oil. The air filter on the lawnmower is a small piece, usually a cylinder or small box. Consult your machine’s manual if you’re not sure. It is simple to remove, clean and/or replace. Even for me!

The spark plug is next. Service it or replace it yearly. It is easily removed with a wrench and can be cleaned with a metal solvent cleaner (WD-40, for example).

Last, but most important, is the blade.

I know you must be tired of me telling you, but hopefully, you are now committed to its proper care. Remove and sharpen your blades. Either use a file or sharpening tool yourself, or take it to a machine shop for a professional job.

If you have a professional edge put on your blade early in the season (now!), you should be able to maintain it yourself with a file throughout the summer. Please remember that you can't sharpen the blade too often. Sharp blades make for a clean cut and healthier lawn. Dull blades will "tear" instead of "cut" the grass. You might consider a second (backup) blade if you do not want to sharpen blades yourself. With a backup, you will always have a sharp blade and avoid the inevitable wait during the summer months at your machine shop. Remember to take care of your lawnmower and it will take care of you!

Now that the lawnmower is taken care of, lets talk about some new things to consider for attacking spring gardening in true "blue thumb" form.

Remember that what you do in the spring will be the foundation of your garden for the rest of the year. With proper preparation, your efforts will be rewarded later. As with everything we do in the garden, try to keep it simple.

Get Out Early
Do an inventory of your tools and equipment and beat the rush to the hardware store. If you procrastinate, you will be one of the thousands who wait until the first 60-degree Saturday in late March to flock to the local supplier. Simple items sell out quickly and take a while for suppliers to replace. After all, wouldn't you rather start working on that first awesome day of spring instead of migrating to the supplier like everyone else?

Contact Landscaping Pros Early
If you need them, contact landscape professionals early in the season to avoid the dreaded wait list. No one can predict how wet April and May will be. The professionals will book jobs and sometimes get behind rather quickly. Ask the pros where you are on their list and try to hold them to it. It is easy for them to "bump" your job for a larger one. If you know in advance where you stand, it may help to "stay in line."

Pick a Supplier You Feel Comfortable With
Everything in life is built on relationships. It is the same with your gardening. Try to go to a local supplier who you like and trust. Usually the smaller “mom and pop” stores are better in the long run. You may pay more for that shovel and fertilizer, but when you need good advice, they will remember you. Ask your local supplier if they would analyze your soil for you or if they provide that service. It makes no sense to plant where you had problems last year or where you have not planted before. Soil testing provides information to help you determine what fertilizers and soil conditioners are necessary for optimum results.

Keep a Garden Journal
Try your hardest to keep notes on your lawn, garden and plantings. A small pad of paper kept in a plastic bag and hung next to your tools is all you need. It is too hard to remember what we did last week, let alone what we did last season. Jot down your successes and failures and it will help you in the coming years. Comparing notes year after year will help save valuable time and money.

Chemicals – Only Keep What You Use
Sort and throw away all of your outdated or unused chemicals according to label instructions. Do not keep chemicals simply because you think you might use them in the future. Add your list of chemicals to your garden journal. Precisely mark what was purchased, how much you used and how effective the results. Also, keep notes from the advice given from your local suppliers. Know in advance when to treat for grubs and ask for advice on overall care for your lawn and garden. If you have a Day-timer or other type of organizational software, enter important dates for lawn care. Our lives are busy enough, so it is easy to miss a scheduled feeding or a needed grub application. Plan now from the advice of your local trusted suppliers. That’s enough from your trusted "Blue Thumb Gardener." I hope you have a successful spring in the garden and have a healthy lawn throughout the year. I leave you with this closing argument: never say die. It is inevitable to all of God’s creatures, as nothing lasts forever. However, keep trying, experimenting and learning from your mistakes. The results will someday surprise you. If you keep planting away, you will blossom into a wonderful "green thumb" gardener. Until then, lets climb (or struggle) to that level together.