3 things you need to know before planting your garden

Who doesn't enjoy gardening? This relaxing activity still requires a certain amount of preparation and knowledge. Here are three essential things you should know before you start planting this year.

The planting period depends on the local climate and weather conditions. In general, we divide these in two: the warm period and the cold period.

• The warmest months of Spring are around April-May, while the coldest months of Autumn are October and November.
• During this period, the rainfall is relatively plentiful and the soil has good conditions of temperature and humidity, which allows the roots of hardy plants to develop properly before winter.
• From one year to the next, these periods are sometimes slightly offset by one or two weeks to a month, depending on the weather, and of course, frosts.
• Regardless of the time of year, you should never plant in periods of frost.

There are four categories of horticultural crops:

• Hardy: -15°C and below
• Frost-resistant: To -5°C
• Frost-sensitive: Can not withstand sub-zero temperatures
• Cold-sensitive: Require temperatures above 5°C sometimes 10°C

Remember to check the hardiness of the plant before planting.

• Plant frost and cold-sensitive plants about two weeks after the last frosts, in late Spring.
• The same advice also applies to seedlings.
• In areas prone to late frosts, sow frost and cold-sensitive species indoors, then transplant the seedlings when there is no longer any danger of frost.

Before transplanting your seedlings, prepare their future location, whether in existing or newly-created beds.

• Weed the plot completely and loosen the soil until it's very crumbly, to facilitate root development.
• You could decide to add organic matter to improve the soil's ability to retain water and to remove the excess.
• Once you've done this, plant your herbs. Some plants like a nutrient-enriched soil, so you may want to spread a slow release fertilizer.
• Other plants, such as anise, common basil and lavender, enjoy a chalkier content.

Once your soil is prepared, soak the base of the plant in a basin of water.

• Make sure the soil is sufficiently rich in organic matter (compost or mature manure) and dig a hole deeper than the thickness of the root ball.
• Loosen any intertwined roots so that they can draw water and nutrients from the surrounding soil.
• Carefully place the plant in the hole, making sure that the root collar is well above the surface of the soil. Take care not to cover it.
• Close the hole and tamp the soil well.
• Water thoroughly when planting, then regularly until the plant has fully recovered.
• Prune it to suit your needs, and also to prevent the occurrence of woody stems.

You're now ready for intelligent gardening, armed with this expert advice. Enjoy your beautiful garden all summer long!