In this video I walk you through the early spring garden chores I do to kick off the season the right way—without getting overwhelmed. First, I move any fall mulch (leaves, straw, hay, grass clippings) off the bed surface and push it to the sides so the sun can warm the top couple inches of soil. Mulch is great in summer to keep soil cooler, but in early spring it insulates the ground and keeps it cold—so your seeds and transplants just sit there. Next, I treat early for my #1 headache here in Maryland Zone 7: snails and slugs. I also show you how I clean up one section at a time (don’t try to do the whole garden), and how I assess overwintered crops like kale, collards, and spinach. If the stems are solid and not rotted, I trim off the dead/yellow leaves and keep them going—those greens are some of the first harvests. I also flip leaves and check for insects (yes, even in early March—whiteflies can already be there). Finally, I top off low beds with basic topsoil if needed, then feed the beds with compost or an organic granular fertilizer (one or the other is usually enough). The goal is simple: clean, warm soil, fewer pests, and a quick setup that builds good habits for a great garden.