Season’s Greenings: Springtime lawn & garden tips

It’s February. The Dead of Winter.

 

Try telling that to your lawn and garden.

 

By now you’ve noticed new shoots rising and pesky weeds emerging. Take those as not-so-subtle hints that it’s time to get your yard in shape for the season ahead.

 

“A lot of people think ‘it’s winter and it’s cold and I don’t want to go out.’ But this time of year is the time to lay the ground work for a successful garden and lawn for the spring and summer,” says Duncan Borders, owner of Moore & Moore Garden Center.

 

As a trusted source for lawn and garden beautification, Borders and the Moore & Moore staff are keenly aware that there are two types of home gardeners: those who prepare proactively, and those who spend the entire season scrambling to keep up with unwanted grasses and foliage.

 

According to Borders, there are four important steps that should be taken now to keep your lawn and garden looking their best: feeding, weed prevention, pruning and planting.

 

Feeding

Borders recommends feeding your roots and shrubs with a good organic fertilizer. Organics feeds the soil as much as the plant. Enriched soil will yield better quality and enhanced growth. It’s also a longer lasting feed.

 

Chemical fertilizers, like Miracle Gro, are less expensive and produce quicker results, but they’re not as long lasting.

 

“When it comes to organic fertilizers versus chemicals, it’s kind of like the tortoise and the hare,” says Borders. “Also, if you spill chemicals, it’ll burn your lawn. Spill the organic fertilizer and there’s no damage.”

 

Weed Prevention

For weed prevention, use a pre-emergent to help prevent weeds and crab grass in lawns, gardens and landscape beds. The operative word is ‘prevention.’ “You won’t kill all of the weeds, but the more you do now, the less you’ll have to do later,” says Borders.

 

Pruning

February is also an ideal month for pruning. This is the time to cut back dead perennials and to give evergreens a good shearing. While you’re at it, shape up your hollies and boxwoods for a nice, uniform appearance and don’t forget to cut back hydrangeas.

 

Planting

Late winter is good time to plant trees and shrubs as it gives them time to get acclimated and establish their roots. Foundation plantings can be installed through May but do it before the summer heats takes hold.

 

If you’re looking to add some new color, it’s not too late to plant some bulbs. While the window for fall bulbs closed around January 1, you can plant spring bulbs like calla lilies, caladium and gladiolas beginning in late April. Don’t do it now; wait until the soil warms up a bit.

 

Moore & Moore can also help with landscaping, mulching and planting. Stop by the store at 8216 Highway 100 or call 615.662.8849 for more details.