Warmer temperatures are rapidly approaching, and now is the time to think about your Boise garden. What would you like to add this season? From flowering plants to veggies, you'll have a lot of options to consider.
  
Our real estate agents offer the following guide to getting your Boise garden started, from helpful tips to stores that are worth a visit:

Helpful tips  

1. Start with a plan.
   Take the time to plan your garden's layout and design before you put anything in the ground. Check out local garden stores to see what types of flower and vegetable plants and seeds are available, and plan out your space on a piece of graph paper. It's not important to be exact but map out an estimate of space and the location of existing plants, sun and shade hours, and where sources of water are located.
     
2. Consult a planting guide for the Boise area.
   Following a planting guide to ensure that you're getting each type of plant into the ground at the correct time. If you plant too soon, you run the risk that they could be damaged by a late frost. The frost-free growing season for the Boise area starts on May 22 and ends on October 6, so some plants, such as tomatoes and peppers, should be started indoors and then later transplanted into your garden.
     
3. Consider weed control.  
   Weeds can compete with your garden plants for space and nutrients from the soil, so take steps to reduce them before they have a chance to gain a foothold in your garden. If you're planting seeds in your garden, do it as soon as possible after tilling so weeds don't get a head start. Adding mulch like an organic material or fabric, and pulling weeds by hand are methods that will help reduce weeds.

Local garden shops to visit  

• Zamzows – several Boise locations, including 6313 W. Fairview Ave., Boise, Idaho 83704
  Zamzows is a go-to store for most of your garden-related needs, including weed control products, soil amendments, bug control, and more. You can also expand your gardening knowledge with the store's classes, including one that covers everything you need to know about growing and caring for berries. 
    
• The Home & Garden Store – 4291 S. Cloverdale Rd., Boise, Idaho 83709
  You'll find plenty of plants, soil amendments, chemicals and fertilizers, and more at The Home & Garden Store. The shop also carries a wide variety of other gardening supplies, and if you need some advice on where or what to plant or how to deal with pests, the staff – including an Idaho-Certified Nurseryman with over 46 years of experience – is friendly and knowledgeable.
    
• North End Organic Nursery – 3777 W. Chinden Blvd., Garden City, Idaho 83714   
  Want to make your garden organic? Then you'll want to visit North End Organic Nursery, which carries 100% organic fertilizers, pest and weed control products, and more. Over 300 varieties of certified organic vegetable starters are sold, so you can transplant them this spring and get your garden off to a great start. You'll also be able to select edible, native, and water-conserving plants for your garden to make it more environmentally friendly. And if you have questions, the nursery always has qualified horticulturalists on hand to help.

Contact us if you're interested in looking at Boise homes for sale or would like to sell your home. Our agents know the area and its housing market very well and can help you buy or sell a home.