Spring is the ideal time to prune back woody plants in order to eliminate diseased or damaged branches and to refresh older shrubs so they’ll produce more flowers and enhance their overall shape. However, pruning tends to put most people off since they’re scared of a making a mistake or actually killing the foliage due to their errors. But, there’s no need to worry. It’s highly unlikely that you will kill your plants and shrubs and any mistakes that you do make will naturally disappear as the foliage grows.
In fact, spring pruning actually stimulates foliage growth. For example, when a shoot is pruned, it causes the buds on the rest of the branch to literally break into growth. However, be aware that a trait called apical dominance makes the uppermost buds grow the longest and fastest. This is helpful if there’s a hole in the shrub, hedge, or tree that you may want to fill. Therefore, by pruning back the nearby branches to a bud that points towards the hole, you will be promoting growth in the empty space.
Follow these other helpful tips to get your yard spring-ready and looking great this summer.
Plant Trees and Shrubs
The moist, cool conditions of spring make it the ideal time to plant a variety of attractive shrubs and trees in your yard. There are a number of reasons why you should plant shrubs and trees, some of which may include:
They add visual beauty and value to your home.
They provide adequate shade to your home, which can significantly reduce your energy bills.
If you plant fruit-bearing trees such as apples, they will produce delicious fruit for your family and will also save you money.
A common mistake many people make when planting shrubs and trees is to plant them too deep. For best results, the root flare should be level with or just above the level of the soil. Also, the best time to plant trees and shrubs is early, mid, or late spring.
Prune Fruit Trees
Many fruit trees, such as apples, peaches, cherries, and pears, benefit from getting thinned out each year. This will promote a more open habit that will make it easier to harvest the fruit as well as keep the trees healthier overall. The best time to prune fruit trees is before the new growth starts to develop.
Plant Seeds
In early spring, growing various plants from seeds is a smart way to save a great deal of money. Sprinkle your seeds in loosened, moist soil. Get a head start by planting them indoors first in order to gain a couple of extra weeks.
Note: If you don’t plant all the seeds you buy this spring, most varieties can be stored in a freezer until next year. A dry, cool place will help them last longer.
Remove Winter Mulch
If you spread a protective layer of wintertime mulch to help shield your plants from the grip of winter, now is the time in early spring to remove it when your plants are just starting to grow and the risk of extreme cold has finally passed. However, it’s always a good idea to keep some extra mulch on hand to protect your plantings just in case of a last-minute blast of cold.
Start Off Using Cool Season Annuals
Annual flowers primarily fall into two different categories:
Varieties that thrive in warmer temperatures
Varieties that thrive in cooler temperatures
The majority of cool season annuals, including violas, pansies, sweet alyssum, snapdragon, poppy, nemesia, calendula, and diascia, can all stand up to a bit of frost. Plant them in containers, beds, or along borders and enjoy a few extra weeks of beautiful colour. Keep in mind that most cool season annuals will start to fade once the heat of summer arrives. Simply replace them with the varieties that love the heat, including petunias, lantana, and nasturtium, to keep fresh colour all summer long.
Prune Roses in Early Spring
In most areas, it’s best to prune roses just before or as new growth surfaces from the canes. Pruning roses encourages healthy, strong shoots to produce many blooms. Also, a trim will give your roses a more open habit that will enable them to resist against such diseases as black spot.
Trim Ornamental Grasses
Trim ornamental grasses in early spring to around 4 inches tall just before or as they are developing new growth. Also, this is the ideal time to divide your ornamental grasses if you like. Note: Leave your spent leaves on your compost pile for the birds to make nests with them.
Tackle the bulk of your spring landscaping maintenance now in order to prepare your lawn for the upcoming growth spurt. Give your lawn and garden the attention they deserve now, so you can relax later in the summer sun. And if this all sounds like too much to do, hire us to help :-)