Tips For Preparing Your Garden Before Planting Season

Experts advise waiting until the last frost to plant, but there's plenty to do now to get your garden ready.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 3:18pm

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A high-contrast silkscreen print of a gardening trowel repeated in a grid pattern, rendered in bright neon colors and bold black outlines in the style of Andy Warhol's pop art.Preparing your garden with the right tools and techniques now will ensure a bountiful harvest later.Buffalo Today

As the weather warms up in Western New York, many gardeners are eager to start planting their summer gardens. However, experts caution that it's best to wait until after the last frost, which typically occurs in late April or mid-May, to put plants in the ground. In the meantime, there are several tasks you can tackle to prepare your garden, such as building raised beds, clearing out debris, tilling the soil, and starting seeds indoors.

Why it matters

Planting too early can result in tender seedlings being killed by a late spring frost, so it's important to time your gardening activities carefully. By taking steps now to get your garden beds ready, you'll be able to hit the ground running once the weather is consistently warm enough for planting.

The details

According to the National Weather Forecast, the average date of the last frost in the Buffalo metro area is near the end of April, but it can be as late as mid-May in more inland areas. To make the most of this waiting period, gardeners should focus on tasks like building raised beds, clearing out old plant matter, tilling the soil, and adding compost or manure. They can also start seeds indoors for plants that need a head start, such as tomatoes and peppers.

  • The average date of the last frost is near the end of April in the Buffalo metro area.
  • The average date of the last frost is in mid-May well inland.

The players

The National Weather Forecast

The organization that provides weather information and forecasts for the Buffalo, New York region.

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The takeaway

By taking the time now to prepare your garden beds and start seeds indoors, you'll be able to hit the ground running once the last frost has passed and it's safe to plant your summer garden. A little patience and preparation now will pay off with a thriving, productive garden later in the season.