Spring Gardening Tips
Tagged as: spring, gardening, tips
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Wait until new growth is established before removing winter mulch protection. Mulch protects plants from late spring freezes. Mulching Trees and Shrubs [PDF]
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Remove tree wraps applied last fall.
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General clean up: rake the lawn and remove leaves, twigs, and debris.
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Check for Winter Injury to Trees and Shrubs and salt damage. Salt-Tolerant Trees & Shrubs [PDF]
Prune dead tips and broken branches. Pruning Deciduous Shrubs, Pruning Evergreens, & Pruning Trees -
Cut ornamental grasses back to a few inches before new growth begins.
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Prevent soil compaction. Avoid walking across saturated lawns and garden beds.
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Before buds break, spray trees with dormant oil for overwintering insects and scale. Temperatures should remain above 40 degrees—read label directions.
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Prepare new planting beds, if soil is dry. Work organic matter and compost into the soil before planting.
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Fertilize Trees and Shrubs before new growth appears. A soil test will indicate a nutrient deficiency. Follow recommendations for fertilizer and pH adjustments. Soil Considerations for Growing Trees [PDF]
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Prune summer-flowering shrubs before spring growth begins (abelia, beautyberry, butterflybush, P.G. hydrangea, “Anthony Waterer” spirea, snowberry).
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Wait to prune spring-flowering shrubs until after the flowers fade (forsythia, deutzia, lilac, mockorange, bridalwreath spirea, weigela).
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Plan a hike through the Arboretum's East Woods and catch a glimpse of the early spring wildflowers.
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As temperatures warm, remove protective winter coverings from plants.
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Review insects and diseases that gave you problems last year. The sooner you detect damage, the easier it is to control.
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Control Apple Scab on crabapple with a fungicide just as leaf buds begin to open. Spray should be repeated every 10 to 14 days until dry weather begins. [PDF]
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Before buds break, spray trees with dormant oil to control overwintering insects and Scale Insects. [PDF]
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Avoid pruning oaks and elms between mid-April though mid-July.
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Divide and move perennials every three years to prevent them from over-crowding.
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Deadhead spring bulbs when they are done flowering to direct energy back into bulbs. Discard tulips that only produced large leaves and no flowers.
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Plant a tree in celebration of Arbor Day! Transplanting Trees and Shrubs [PDF]
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Enjoy the Arbor Day Celebration and more than 100,000 daffodils at the Arboretum!
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Trees & shrubs can provide a sense of enclosure, create shade, make accents or focal points, and define edges. Getting Started with a Landscape Design. [PDF] Landscaping Your Home for Energy Efficiency [PDF]
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Plant annuals after all danger of frost has passed (average date is May 15).
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Encourage butterflies and bees by planting native species. [PDF[
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Keep weeds controlled-they are easier to pull when small. Avoid deep cultivation around shallow rooted plants.
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Stake tall and floppy perennials (peonies, delphiniums) as they grow.
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Apply fungicide sprays to roses to control diseases such as black spot.
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Take a day off to enjoy the spring season at The Morton Arboretum
Visit or call the Plant Clinic at 630-719-2424
[All leaflets are PDF. Download free Adobe Reader to view.]
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