Spring Gardening Checklist

[Mr T-Bone]

Early Spring
Divide perennials before plants begin spring growth.
Clean up debris in flower beds.
Re-mulch perennial beds with a light coat of organic mulch.

Prune fruit trees now if you didn't prune in winter. Prune before buds begin to break into bloom or risk tree stress.

Start seeds indoors. You've spent the winter dreaming of the day when gardening begins and pouring over the new seed catalogues...time to get growing!

Prune low branches on trees for safety & light quality.

Check gas gardening equipment - lawnmowers, tillers, etc. If you didn't drain the fuel tanks and run motors dry before winter, pick up Sta-bilâ„¢ for 2 and 4 stroke engines to clean up gas residues in your equipment. Also, check your equipment's pull cords. Change spark plugs and oil.

Sharpen all blade-type cutting equipment and replace the string in your edger/trimmer.


Mid Spring
Hardy vegetables, such as onions, potatoes, artichokes, and some lettuces can be planted now.
Light thinning can be done now to any shrub or tree except lilacs.


Prepare annual beds adding compost or fertilizer to the soil.


Apply mulch to all beds. Mulch now for next to no weeding in summer.

Late Spring
(frost free nights)
Wait until after most spring flowering shrubs bloom before pruning.


Wait until after the last frost to plant annuals.


Deadhead spring flowering bulbs blossoms. Let foliage die back naturally without removing it as it feed the bulb for next year's flowers.