Early Spring Garden Maintenance Tips:

The best time for pruning plants is coming up over the next couple of months. Here in Tennessee, Steve and I generally do this over a Saturday or two in early March. Of course, if you have a warm weekend the latter part of February, you might want to go ahead and jump on it as you know, if you don’t it could end up being another month or so before a warm weekend happens again.

Arm yourself with a rake, weed eater or heavy shears, a tool belt, apron with pockets, basket, or pail, filled with clippers, gardening scissors, gardening gloves, old cloths, trash bag(s) and (if available) a small garden saw. Start on one side of your property or garden and work across the yard and then clockwise around your house and other out buildings beginning with the front/main entrance. The point is to be able to go over all areas of your landscape so that you don’t miss plants.

Always begin an area by tackling the larger growing plants, whether trees or shrubs. First cut or saw out all branches that are dead, broken, touching or crossing. Then, if necessary, trim for shape. From the larger trees and shrubs, move onto smaller growing plants, such as ornamental grasses (which you will be cutting to the ground with either the weed eater or heavy shears), roses, evergreen herbs, perennials, ground covers, etc. Remember, if you haven’t pulled out the annuals that were planted last year, it’s time to remove them now.

Once all plants have been pruned, shaped and otherwise cleaned up in an area, rake the clippings into the trash bag and move onto the next. By cleaning up an area completely, if you have to stop that day for some reason before finishing, you can begin with a new area and don’t have to back track.
You know, I find it easier to make sandwiches the night before for lunch, so Steve and I don’t have to completely stop. This way, we get to picnic outside. (It’s much easier!).

Watch for that warm weekend and I’ll follow up with you next week.
Cheryl