Rremove any remaining protective winter mulch, such as evergreen boughs from around roses, 

perennials and ground covers. 

Doing a walk about in your landscape, inspecting plants for wildlife damage and take care of any corrective pruning will prove invaluable. Perennials should be checked for any root upheaval from frost and stepped back in. Decide what you will move or add to perennial beds. Decide what problem areas need attention.

For yews, junipers and boxwoods not sheared into formal hedges, plants can be allowed to develop a more natural, feathery appearance. However, regular annual pruning is still necessary. Selectively head back the most vigorous branches to a side branch or bud. When the new growth appears in May, the plant will regain a lacy, soft appearance. Contact us to schedule your landscape pruning needs.

Now that the snow has melted and the ground is no longer soggy, rake your lawn to fluff-up any matted down areas and to remove any mold which many have begun due to high moisture. Late in the month, follow through with spot seeding of grass seed to fill in bare spots.

Bark mulch garden pathways to suppress weeds and facilitate spring work in the garden. Back 2 Green will be happy to tend to your mulching needs.

As soon as flowerbeds can be worked, a top-dressing of compost or topsoil will give all of your plantings a spring time boost. This is also the time to do a soil test on your vegetable garden and start your seedlings indoors or consider your plans for vegetables.

When temperatures are above 40° and will remain above freezing, apply dormant spray to ornamentals to control scale and other over wintering pests on problem plants from last season.

Be mindful of any fruit which may have fallen and continue to fall. If left unchecked, they will decompose, attract various insects and eventually choke out the lawn leaving brown or bare spots. Rake up and remove fruit and leaves from all lawn areas regularly where insect and disease problems will quickly occur. If you have a compost pile turn with every addition to aid in decomposition.  If you do not have a compost pile, consider starting one for an endless supply of compost for your yard without the city disposal charges. Contact Back 2 Green to schedule fall cleanup services.

Whether working off a plan or in need of a special plant, we encourage you to plan ahead and order early. Many plants, particularly many types of trees, can only be successfully dug in spring.  If a specific size or type is desired, we recommend putting your request in early for the best selection. A few of the spring dug only plants include: Autumn Blaze maple, red maples, horse chestnut, serviceberry and birch.

The lilacs should now be available widely and ready for installation for the color burst and interest at eye level.

Contact us now for any of your pre-spring tasks.

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