First garden post of the season

 

I live in zone 4 so we are about a month away from our last frost date but we didn't get a lot of snow and especially we didn't get the big recent snows that parts of our state had so the ground is dry enough to start prepping for plants and planting some of the earliest seeds.  Today, with rain in the forecast Dad came out to till the North half of the garden.  Last year with the battle with the deer the garden was overtaken with weeds and the front half is in permanent raised rows so that will be worked by hand but the back is just one large area and so that can be tilled and today dad came out and tilled it.  The brown parts are the left over dead weeds from last year.   Dad suggested that we till it again in a week or so and I think that sounds like a great plan.  

On the south half of the garden, I have started to prep rows.  The first few rows are turned, I am applying composted manure to the rows and I have planted two rows of potatoes and a row of peas.  The pea trellis is installed.  The potatoes are ones that my sister had from last year and I am trying them to see if they will grow.  If not there is still time to replant with new seed potatoes.  

I am hoping to get some deer protection up before the plants are up and providing temptation for deer and rabbits.  And dogs.  I have been finding big holes dug in the yard and garden.  I have not caught any of our dogs in the act so I am not sure who to blame but it is getting annoying so I am hoping to figure it out and figure out a way to put a stop to it.  I am suspicious that it is Codie because when we just had two dogs she would bury her bones and Sadie would watch where she went and dig them up.  

P.S. Thanks Dad!!