Tip of the Month

March 2012

Spring Is
on the Way!

By Gregory Bruner

Here in the south spring is knocking at the garden shed door, but don’t rush too far ahead. Now is the time to get serious about any
garden preparation work that was overlooked during the winter.

Before you
get dirt under your fingernails digging holes, you need to make sure your flower beds are ready for their new leafy children.  If you plan to create new beds, now is a good time to take soil samples to your local extension agency. The experts will be able to tell you exactly what you need to add to your flower beds to make them flourish all season long.

If you left grass and perennial seed heads for the birds and wildlife to eat during the winter, make sure to cut those down and remove them.  Once the new shoots begin to emerge, you don’t want to disturb them with too much raking and pruning. Transplanting and dividing of dormant trees, shrubs, and perennials is still OK as long as the new spring buds have not yet
opened.

Color is beginning to sprout up at garden centers.  Wonderful spring bloomers like Phlox subulata
(Creeping Phlox), Erysimum (Wallflower), Aubrieta (rock cress),
and Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft) offer us a nice array of colors to help brighten up our winter-weary flower beds.

Winter is almost over. As
spring approaches, get out and finish those garden cleanups. Then head out to your local garden center and
see all of the colors that are ready to brighten up your yard for spring.