Is It Spring Yet?

There's no point in pretending you're not going to be out in your garden the first warm day. Oh wait, that first warm day is long behind us, isn't it? You have probably already done some work with the warm weather we have had. While there is no harm in cleaning up fallen branches and debris, wait until the soil is no longer wet enough to form a ball in your hand before walking on it. This will help reduce compaction of the soil. But don't wait too long to start your cleanup. It's much easier to cut plants back before the old growth gets tangled up with the new growth.

The first task is removing and dead annual plants that remained over winter. This material may be composted if you wish. Annuals will, generally, not return and any self-seeders will already have done their job.

If you didn't prune back your perennials in the fall, they will need to be cut back this spring. Many perennials prefer to be left standing throughout the winter and they can add texture and depth to your winter garden. Once you see new growth at the base of the plant, it's safe to remove the mulch and prune them down to ground level.

Ornamental grasses are commonly left over the winter. You can cut them back anytime. You don't have to wait for new growth. Cut grasses to within a few inches of the ground and they'll come back up when they are ready.

Remember, now is not the time to prune back flowering shrubs. Most spring and early summer flowering plants set their buds in the fall for the following year's color. So pruning them now will greatly reduce, if not eliminate, flowering for this spring. (Examples are Azalea, Rhododendron, Hydrangea.) Pruning these plants should be put on the list of gardening tasks to complete in the fall.

So take advantage of the warm sunny, days get your plant beds cleaned up and ready for 2012 planting. We can help you make your landscape everything you want it to be. There's no time like today to grow something beautiful!

BUCKEYE LANDSCAPE  614-866-0088