Yesterday was Groundhog day, and Phil said six more weeks of Winter. Six more weeks is plenty of time to prepare your garden for Spring. In order to help you get started, I have compiled a list of beneficial garden chores.

get out your tools!

Save up for a warm (60's hopefully) sunny day to begin to tend to your garden, you have six more weeks after all (thanks Phil). On a day with less favorable conditions, scrounge around in your garden supplies and tools to make sure you are prepared. You can fix or replace tools, locate your gloves, and update your garden journal.

• Once you make it outside, consider the following:
• Remove any dead annuals that made it through the Winter, and pick out what you intend to plant next
• If you did not prune your perennials in the fall, it is generally safe to prune them once you start to see new growth. Of course, there are exceptions. Contact Father Nature to learn more.
• Be mindful of your herbaceous perennials. They generally die back during the winter and should emerge in the Spring
• Prune your woody shrubs to encourage new growth
• Other plants just may need a little sprucing up. Trim away tattered and warn foliage for a fresh Spring look.
• Ornamental grasses can be cut back to a few inches above the ground with no sign of new growth. New growth will occur when the plant is ready. (There are some exceptions)

For more specific information about plant requirements or pruning technique, send us an email and we would be happy to help you! Remember,

"Gardening is a labor of love. Exercise is just plain labor." Horticulturalist Steve Upson

Happy Gardening!