The weather, not the calendar, dictates when it’s time for Spring cleanup in the garden.

You’ll know it’s time to start when you see these signs: Snow melting; forsythia blooming; Robin sightings; birds singing; temperatures warming; lawn greening up; and you get the urge to be outside.

Here’s a list of the most important things you’ll want to tackle once the weather breaks:

1. Remove winter mulches from planting beds.
2. Remove protective covers from roses and evergreens.
3. Reset frost –heaved plants.
4. Re-cut bed edges.
5. Top dress mulch. You may need to remove some mulch to make room for new material. It shouldn’t be more than four inches thick after the top dress. Often, it just needs to be turned over for a fresh look.
6. Cut back any perennials.
7. Prune any branches that died or are damaged. Remove any crossing branches, rubbing branches, sucker shoots or water sprouts.
8. Prune shrubs that bloom on new growth. DO NOT PRUNE MAPLES this time of year because of sap run. Only prune oak trees November through April.
9. Remove leaves and debris from the yard.
10. Start to work your lawn, de-thatch fill in low spots and fertilize. Be sure the lawn is not too wet when starting this work.
11. Fertilize trees, shrubs and perennials with Espoma’s “Tone” fertilizer, an organic slow-release formula. Use Espoma’s Holly-tone for use on evergreen trees and shrubs.
12. Test soil for pH and nutrient levels before major planting, and make adjustments as necessary. English Gardens offers a free soil pH test during March. Read our blog on soil testing for more details.
13. Add soil conditioner and compost to the soil, which adds organic material.
14. Remove weeds that overwintered and apply a weed deterrent, like Preen, to landscape beds.

NOTE: Hard surfaces, like cement and pavers may have shifted in the cold. Most will resettle to proper levels when the weather warms up.

If you have any questions, the experts at English Gardens are always available to help.