Happy almost Spring everyone!! The weather is warm, we’ve had sunshine and lots of it. A little bit of rain and then sunshine again. Maybe I’m just a cautious person but this weather has me looking over my shoulder waiting for Mother Nature’s sucker punch! I am prepared for a lot. I am seeding early but I have a roll of Remay in case of frost. I have my summer clothes bins ready but I’ve kept out my winter wear. This season my motto is ‘Roll with it’. Here is your ‘Honey Do’ list:
Lawns
You can aerate if your soil is not soggy. You can top dress and lime as well. If the mild weather continues you could even think about fertilizing, moss killing and even seeding by next month.
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Moss removal is a question we get all the time at the nursery. Here are 5 simple ways to deal with moss.
- Make the area less shady
- Improve the drainage or topdress with soil/said
- Apply lime
- Rake away or manually remove dead moss
- If all else fails, apply a moss killer product
It is likely time to mow as well, be sure to call a friend or relative that lives back east and have them ‘Guess the sound’….no….not a snowblower….keep guessing though.
If you don’t have a friend or relative back east you are welcome to call one of mine, expect some spirited conversation…there might be expletives if there is another snowfall.
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Trees and Shrubs
There is still a bit of time to prune but stick with small cuts and then wait to see if the sap is running. A lot of things are breaking dormancy early so try to go easy and stick with the 3 D’s…dead, damaged or diseased or hold off for summer pruning if you have fruit trees. For those of you that know me…improper pruning gives me a headache.
Check out www.treesaregood.com for more in depth advice on proper pruning. You can also call a certified Arborist. We have many awesome ones. After proper pruning has occurred, a tree or shrub should not actually look pruned or stubby but should look more open. There are some exceptions of course…some roses, apples, spirea or twig dogwood if you are coppicing them and a few others. If you mess up…I will find you. You will not like my mad-face. If you are enjoying heather, give it a trim once it is finished blooming.
Garden Beds
Weed and clean up the garden beds. Now is a great time to divide up perennials if you have an abundance. Share with your neighbours or start a plant swap. Be mindful of emerging pollinators and beneficial insects when you clean up your garden. Now is a good time to top dress your garden beds with mulch, manure or compost. If this weather is any indication…this summer might be a dry one so a good deep root system and a protective layer of much might just be an important asset.
Planters
Freshen up your planters. If emptied of last years annuals, remove the old soil (or the top 8 -12 inches) and add some fresh. If you have perennials in your planters, tidy them up, top dress with compost and take a look at the drainage. If you have evergreens you can trim, root prune if you are trying to decrease size and make sure they are not outgrowing their pot.
Veggie Gardens
Some veggies can be direct sown at this time such as Arugula, Kale, Garlic, Peas and Spinach and some can still be started indoors like Broccoli, Cabbage, Lettuce and Tomatoes. If you are not sure where to start, we’ve got some seeding workshops coming up at the nursery. Come and join us for fun and some great tips!
Get ready for one heck of a spring and summer. Something tells me this is going to be an interesting year! Have an adventure and don’t be afraid to try something new!