Ready, Set, Go Garden!

The wait is over…according to the calendar, spring has finally arrived! So, if you’ve been itching to get into the garden, here are some timely chores to tackle.

It’s time to plant peas! Sow seeds in well-drained soil and spots that enjoy at least 6 hours of sun each day. Provide a trellis or fence to support their vines. Expect pretty flowers, followed by delicious, healthy pods.

Prune butterfly bush before it begins to grow. Large, overgrown shrubs will benefit from a good haircut!

Don’t guess, soil test! Gardeners-in-the-know will have their soil tested before they do any spring planting.

Don’t wait until they finish flowering to fertilize! When tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and other spring flowering bulbs poke through garden soil, that’s your cue to fertilize. Use Plant-tone according to label directions.

If you haven’t started, fertilize houseplants according to package directions.

Plant pansies to breathe new life into tired landscapes and planters!

Bare spots in the lawn? If so, it’s time to rake and reseed before opportunistic weeds fill those spots. You’ll need a metal rake, topsoil, starter fertilizer, and grass seed. Rake the lawn free of any debris left from winter. After raking, use quality topsoil to fill in any holes or depressions. When you’re ready to seed, always use quality grass seed. (It’s key to match the seed to the site, for example sunny areas require sunny mixes of grass seed.)  Keep newly seeded areas moist; check daily and water accordingly.

Give ornamental grasses a good crew cut to completely remove last year’s growth. Use sharp pruning shears and remove all the old, brown foliage. Want to keep things neat? Bundle the growth before you cut. Once cut, new growth will quickly appear.

Gradually remove mulch from perennial borders. Sunlight will warm the soil and encourage spring growth.