In the spring garden

crocus.snowMany of my clients covet yard space when they choose a house or condo to buy. If you have a single flower bed or an acre, this is the time of year that it begins to call for your attention.

My client, Carolyn Edsell-Vetter has a landscaping company which had this list of April gardening chores. If you haven’t gotten to it yet, this may be the week:

  • Begin spring clean-up. Remove fallen sticks and branches, rake leaves and other debris from garden beds. Add fresh mulch.
  • Begin mowing lawns when grass is 3 to 3-1/2 inches high.
  • It’s safe to begin planting perennials when the ground has thawed and soil temperature is about 50 degrees.
  • Fertilize lawns.
  • Spot seed lawns.
  • New sod lawns can be installed in the spring or the fall.
  • Severely prune deciduous shrubs and hedges for best regrowth.
  • Fertilize perennials. Divide where necessary.
  • Prepare flower beds for planting.
  • Plant dormant or bare root roses.
  • Prune broken, dead or diseased tree and shrub branches.
  • Start annual seeds indoors.

crocusAnd since May is around the corner:

  • Mow and trim lawns, keeping height between 3 to 3-1/2 inches.
  • Plant new trees and shrubs. Cool weather gives them a good start before the heat and drought of summer.
  • Prune flowering shrubs after flowering.
  • Prune hedges.
  • Plant perennials. Stake any tall ones before they grow too high.
  • Plant annuals after the frost free date in your area. (Memorial Day is always a safe bet in Massachusetts.)
  • Plant hanging baskets and window boxes.
  • Keep planting shrubs and roses.
  • Prune broken, dead or diseased tree and shrub branches.

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