Spring is just a couple weeks away and it is time to get our gardens ready. Here is a list of things you can do to help prepare:
Pruning:
Now is a great time to prune your deciduous shrubs before they start spring growth. Without their leaves, their branching structure is easily visible and easier to prune. Remove dead or damaged wood and do any structural pruning of branches growing in odd directions or inconvenient locations.
Perennial Cleanup:
Remove last year’s faded perennial shoots to make room for fresh new growth this spring. With Epimedium, this is especially important because last year’s leaves will hide this year’s spring blooms. Be sure to compost all your trimmings to use as mulch next year.
Frond Removal:
If you have evergreen ferns, like sword fern or deer fern, now is agood time to cut back their fronds. Though not required, removal of last year’s fronds before the arrival of this year’s will result in fresher-looking ferns this spring and summer. But be aware that annual frond removal may result in stunting of your ferns and that in nature, the old fronds slump and act as a kind of mulch that protects the fern’s roots and provides habitat for frogs and salamanders. Perhaps remove fronds in only the more formally maintained areas of your garden, if at all.
Weeding/Mulching:
Cool-season weeds are growing now. If you haven’t pulled them yet, do so and then apply a layer of mulch containing a generous amount of well-aged compost. The compost will reduce the number of weeds growing in your garden bed and feed nutrients and organic matter to your plants.
Prep Irrigation:
Get your irrigation system ready now. Check your hoses for leaks. Make sure your sprinklers work properly. Especially check any irrigation timers you have. Timers left out in freezing weather may be damaged by ice forming inside. For an in-ground irrigation system, turn it on to check for leaks and clogged or damaged sprinkler heads. Find the problems now before you need to water.
–Written by Darren Strenge, Gardens West Manager
