By Robert R. Westerfield
University of
Georgia
As the weather turns more favorable in the spring, our minds
begin to wander toward our landscapes and flower gardens. The
list of garden jobs is almost endless.
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Concentrate, though, on the most important tasks as you prepare
for a beautiful landscape.
It’s time for last-minute pruning. Prune roses and most other
nonspring-blooming plants before their new flush. Prune plants
that bloom in early spring right after they bloom if they need a
trim.
Spring is also an ideal time to fertilize your shrubs. Apply a
slow-release fertilizer in late March or early April to give your
plants a supply of energy for the growing season. Be careful.
Don’t overdo it. Too much fertilizer will cause excess growth and
harm the environment, too.
Flower beds
Early spring is great for preparing annual and perennial flower
beds. It may be too early to plant some tender annuals, but you
can get ready by tilling the bed and adding rich compost or
topsoil.
Be sure to check that the bed has good drainage so plants’ roots
will develop well. You can safely add other shrubs to your
landscape now, too. Remember to provide ample space for plants.
Allow for the size the shrub or flower will be at maturity.
Weed control is critical in the spring. As the ground begins to
warm, many weeds are just waiting to germinate. Applying a
registered preemergent herbicide or adding a landscape fabric or
mulch will go a long way to preventing weeds’ disruption of the
flower garden.
Houseplants can go back outside when daytime temperatures climb
back above 50 degrees. It’s a good idea to bring plants back in,
however, if the nighttime temperature is going to dip much lower
than 50 degrees.
Fern aid
Clean up ferns by removing old, crumpled foliage. Repot any
houseplants that have become rootbound. Begin to get back on the
regular watering and fertilizing schedule as the days get warmer.
Don’t forget about your equipment. If you haven’t already done
it, drain and change the oil in your rotary tillers, string
trimmers and mowers. Be sure all nuts, bolts and belts are tight
and blades are sharp.
Check hand tools such as shovels, hoes and rakes for cracked or
dry handles. Treat them with linseed oil or paint them to protect
them and extend their life.
Spring is a time of anticipation and outdoor fun. By doing a few
outdoor chores early, we can look for a landscape that should
provide us beauty and enjoyment throughout the season.
(Bob Westerfield is the Cooperative Extension consumer
horticulturist with the University of Georgia College of
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)
