If you haven’t gotten out in your garden yet to tidy things up, you’re not too late! You’ve still got plenty of time to get your garden looking its best before patio season returns.
Do’s
~ Pruning: Although late winter / early spring is the ideal time for pruning most plants you can still get out in your garden to prune before it gets too warm
- Cut back ferns and grasses (make sure to wait until the risk of deep freezes have passed)
- Remove any dead or winter damaged branches from shrubs and trees and thin out any crossing branches. Some shrubs and trees will benefit from periodic thinning to keep them from getting overly dense.
- It’s ok to prune Hydrangeas that bloom on new wood in late winter/early spring – Panicle & Smooth (paniculata and arborescens) Hydrangeas
~ Lawn care: Remove any debris and leaves from lawn. A moderate amount of leaves can be mulch-mowed into lawn if desired. In Late Spring, aeration and thatching can be completed if needed.
~ Weeding: It is important to keep up with weeding in the spring to keep any weeds from going to seed.
~ Mulch: Apply a 2” thick layer of Composted Black Bark mulch to all bed areas (make sure beds are free of weeds prior). A fresh layer of mulch will help reduce weeds and add organic matter to add nutrients to the soil for the plants.
~ Planting: Spring is a good time for adding, dividing, or transplanting. Some cold hardy vegetables can be started in spring as well.
~ Watering: Schedule with your maintenance provider to have your irrigation system turned on and inspected. Schedules fill up quickly so be sure to get on the schedule early. Typically, the system will not need to be run until May or June. Keep an eye on the irrigation and make adjustments to zone duration as needed. Remember the most efficient way to add or subtract time from the zones is to use the seasonal adjustment.
~ Water feature: Remove water from the basin and clean out any debris from the vessel. Flush clean water through the pump to clean any remaining debris out.
~ Container Gardens: Water containers when soil is dry or when needed, every 2-3 days depending on spring temperatures. This is especially important for pots that are under eaves or other overhead structures. Don’t forget to prune trees & shrubs in containers, too. Apply a slow-release fertilizer, mixed into the soil appropriate to the type of plants in the containers. If slugs are an issue, Sluggo can be applied.
Don’ts
~ We certainly get plenty of water in the PNW and our soils can show that. Make sure the ground isn’t too wet/overly soggy before setting out. Not only can it create slick and muddy conditions, but the ground can become compacted where wagons or wheelbarrows have been rolled over it multiple times.
~ Typically in Spring, you’ll want to leave anything that blooms on old wood alone, so you don’t risk cutting off flower buds. These include shrubs like Bigleaf (macrophylla), Mountain (serrata), Oakleaf (quercifolia), and Climbing (petiolaris) Hydrangeas along with other early spring bloomers like Rhododendrons, Forsythias, and Lilacs.
~ Don’t start using your gardening tools from last year, especially pruners, without giving them a good clean & sharpen first. This is important if you’ve helped in family or friend’s gardens. This will ensure no pests or diseases will be transported between plants.
~ Don’t create mulch volcanoes. Mulch is great for suppressing weeds and retaining soil moisture, but it should never be mounded up against tree trunks as this will slowly kill the tree. A 2″ thick layer is plenty.
~ Don’t plant frost tender annuals or veggies quite yet. We use Mother’s Day weekend as a general rule of thumb for areas north of Seattle for when to plant things like tomatoes outside. Keep a frost cover nearby in those early days just in case.
~ Don’t throw away your nursery pots after planting. These can either be recycled at your local recycling center or returned to your local nursery.
~ Don’t wait for summer to plant. The best times to get new plants in the ground are fall and spring because the cooler temperatures and consistent rain help establish roots so they have the best chance at surviving. Hot and dry summer conditions can put a lot of stress on new plants.
~Don’t wait to start on your design! The design process typically takes 8-10 weeks and the time from initial consultation to completion for an average project can range from 6-12 months or even longer for larger projects or projects requiring permitting. If you’re ready to get started, you can fill out our new client questionnaire here.
~Colleen
