This year has been very odd for many of us who were given a surprise snow storm, and some VERY cold temperatures in April. Many plants received at least some frost damage, but seem to coming around. Here are some other tips for the spring landscape.

It's important to wait until your soil is thawed and ready before working it. You don't want the soil to pack down if it's still too moist. Test it by grabbing a handful-does it lump together or does water run out? Are there ice crystals still present? If so, do clean-up that isn't going to smash down the soil. Trim perennials of dead foliage and any debris that you can easily get to. Cut down the ornamental grasses to about 6 inches about where you are starting to see green growth. You can throw cuttings into the compost pile.

Once the soil is ready you can do much more. Rake away leaves and debris. Plan out any new beds and get them ready by adding compost and/or organic fertilizer. This will give them a little time to settle before you plant. If you are preparing any new areas those will need to be dug and organic matter added as well. Also, this is a good time to look over your apple trees and get rid of the dead limbs. If you see any branches that are rubbing against other branches trim those too.

DO NOT divide plants such as bleeding hearts, poppies, iris or other early blooming flowers. Wait and divide near autumn when they have died down. You also should not trim azaleas, spirea or lilacs until about a week AFTER they bloom. Until then leave them alone. Once the ground has warmed and heavy frosts pass you can divide your mums, perennial asters, and other late blooming plants. Consider contacting friends and family to swap divisions! This is how I ended up with many of my perennials, and I still do this.

Southern gardeners should be pruning early blooming shrubs when they are finished, including forsythias, flowering almond and jasmine in April. You will be able to set out your tender annuals and bedding plants now, if you haven't already. Prepare your beds with compost and gentle, organic fertilizers that won't burn your plants or seeds. Direct seed calendula, nasturtiums, or bachelor buttons.

Remember, don't cut back the foliage of your flowering spring bulbs until it's yellowed. The stems are soaking up nutrients and sunshine to prepare for the next spring bloom, and you don't want to cut this process short.

You can start many seeds indoors. Leeks and onions should be started from seed early (so now is good!) and also you can sow celery, cabbage, or broccoli. Toward the end of the month start tomatoes and peppers-you can start these now if you have an earlier frost date. Ours isn't until May here in the north. You can sow pansies, petunias and impatiens now too.

Lastly, check your stored canna bulbs. Are they starting to sprout? Place them in a pot of good container soil and begin to water. Later in the month you can plant tuberous begonias too. Keep them in pots or transplant after the last frost when it has warmed.

MORE: When should you prune trees and shrubs?
http://www.oldfashionedliving.com/pruning.html
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Get out in your garden today! ~Brenda

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