Have the catalogs started to arrive in your mailbox? It’s time.
Gardening is an educational goldmine as well as good training in responsibility. If you plant it, it must be cared for.
Start with some dreaming. Sketch out on a large sheet of paper the areas of the yard you hope to plant. As the catalogs arrive, assign the kids to read the growing conditions for various plants. Then have them cut out their pictures and glue them on to your sketch.
Get some seed pots and seeds and get some hardy plants started inside. You can check your state’s planting schedule here for best results: http://www.thevegetablegarden.info/planting-schedules.
Got boys? Cleaning out the winter debris is a perfect job for boys who love mud.
Also time to set up your mud area, Mom. Pick an easy to clean place and set rules in place about how to handle muddy clothing and boots. Think ahead a bit now to avoid that seasonal irritation!