What To Expect In Your Garden Beds This Late Spring

Last week’s unexpected snow storm was really crazy! As a gardener, I know that you can never rely on an exact date for warmer weather in the Spring, but this season had been so unusual! In the past 12 years there have been times with early or late spring snow storms, but not so many so often! At the beginning of February we had 4 weeks of work lined up and to date we have only been able to get to 1/8 of that work due to the weather!

What do you need to know to navigate your yard at this time of year? Drainage is the main issue we have been running into- soggy garden beds, soggy grass, standing water in the lawn. If you can allow your property to drain for a few days before getting out there, you will avoid compaction in your lawn and garden beds.

Edging beds is difficult when there is snow or when the soil is waterlogged or if the ground is frozen. Wait for the temperatures to warm up and the snow to melt and soils drain.

• Raking out the remainder of leaves from the fall
• Picking up sticks
• Cutting the dead parts out of shrubs and trees
• Thinning out shrubs and trees
• Cutting back perennials
• Cutting back ornamental grasses
• Planting flowers like primrose, pansies and other cold weather flowers
• Planting lettuce, beets, carrots, and arugula seeds in your veggie garden, as well as cold weather crop starts like broccoli, cabbage, kale, collards, and cauliflower

•  Planting outdoor containers with annuals other than cold weather annuals (like pansies and primrose)
•  Planting culinary herbs outside
•  Planting new landscape beds, remember to let the soil warm up and dry out a week or so

Although it may be tempting as it warms up over the next few weeks- hold off on planting annuals until the end of April. Any early planted flowers run the risk of dying back from frost.

As the weather warms up this week enjoy your yard!