Ten Tips for Preparing Your Garden for Spring

Properly preparing your garden for spring will ensure that it flourishes all year long. Here are 10 spring gardening tips.

1. Remove annuals. If there are dead annuals still your garden from last year, remove and discard them.

2. Tidy up flower beds. Clean out leaves, branches and other debris that has accumulated in your garden over the winter.

3. Prune perennials. If you have perennials in your garden that you did not cut back in the fall, they should be pruned in the spring once your see new growth at the base of the plant. Prune them back to ground level for the healthiest spring growth.

4. Trim ornamental grasses. Any ornamental grasses that were left uncut through the winter should be trimmed to ground level in the early spring. There is no need to wait until you see new growth to do this chore.

5. Prune roses. If you live in a climate where rose bushes go dormant during the winter, early spring is the right time to prune them. However, only prune mature rose bushes (those that have been in the garden two or three years). Prune roses when leaf buds begin to swell. A rule of thumb that many gardeners use is to prune roses when forsythia is in full bloom. Cut off all dead, broken or damaged stems. Shape the rose bush as you prune and clean out the middle of the bush, which will allow better air circulation and healthier growth.

6. Weed. Weed your garden in the early spring before you plant, transplant and mulch. Spring weeding usually is fairly easy, since the soil generally is moist and weeds have not had time to grow strong root systems.

7. Divide and transplant. Most perennials can be divided and transplanted in the spring. When, how and how often to divide will vary depending on the variety, so do a little research before you start this process. Generally, dividing perennials in the spring is relatively easy, and it will result in more vigorous and healthier plants.

8. Prune some trees and shrubs. Spring blooming trees and shrubs like azaleas, forsythias, lilacs, and rhododendrons shouldn't be pruned until after they bloom in the spring, but there are other trees and shrubs that can be pruned and shaped while they are still dormant, such as Bradford pears, flowering dogwood and wisteria.

9. Start seeds indoors. Determine the right time to start flower and vegetable seeds by estimating when the last hard frost is likely to occur in your growing region and then count back based on the growing time for the plants you want to grow.

10. Prepare the soil. One of the most important things you can do to prepare your garden for spring is to be sure that the soil is healthy and rich. When the soil is dry enough to work in the spring, till it, add fertilize or organic matter (such as compost or manure) then till it again to mix well.

Sources:

Marie Iannotti, gardening.about.com, Spring Cleaning Your Garden- Getting Your Garden Ready to Grow

Marie Iannotti, gardening.about.com, Flowering Trees and Shrubs

Bob Bauer, www.rose-roses.com, Spring Pruning Of Your Roses