By Ella Maxwell, Extension Master Gardener serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria and Tazewell counties
The temperatures this spring have been up and down which forced some of the earliest flowering plants to begin blooming at least two weeks earlier than normal in my garden. My winter aconite and snowdrops began flowering on February 5 (Don’t you just love cell phone pictures with a date stamp). Then by early March, they had already set seed. The warm weather also brought out some early pollinators. Currently my hellebores and spring bulbs have a beautiful floral display.
Wait until April to begin clean up of perennial garden beds
As all of these early blooms started to appear, I did little to my garden beds except pick up fallen sticks and begin to remove some of last year’s hellebore foliage. Each year I hold off removing any leaves to uncover my beds or cut back foliage in my garden beds until April when the night temperatures are consistently in the 50’s. I do this to protect the solitary bees, butterflies, moths, and other insects that have yet to emerge from winter dormancy. The “No Mow” and “Leave the Leaves” tag lines have value. I want to work with nature.
Late winter garden projects
Garden projects I have started and accomplished are many.
- Started organizing my seeds (early February)
- Ordered new seed varieties to try this year
- Started my winter sowing
- Sharpened and cleaned hand tools and shovels
- Pruned trees to raise the canopy
- Trimmed back boxwood
- Pruned back shrubs like panicle hydrangea to improve their appearance
- Pruned fruit trees, brambles, and grapes
- Cleared off my asparagus bed and rhubarb
- Emptied and rebuilt my compost pile, then spread it on my vegetable garden
- Planted potatoes and onions
- Cut back all of my ornamental grasses
- Spread new mulch on my garden path
- Checked plant labels to replace or remark and noted plants I may want to dig or divide when the weather warms up
Actually, I have had a job to do every weekend and many during the week. Luckily I do not have to do these tasks alone and my husband Dave helps. If you know a single gardener you may want to check in and volunteer to help with some of their gardening tasks. Gardening is more fun when shared.
I have started to get my two mowers ready for the season with servicing and blade sharpening. I appreciate the time change in March. The days are lengthening and I can work outside longer in the warmer afternoons. I plan to wash my patio furniture and repaint as necessary the next warm days. There are many “spring” jobs and I don’t know how I got them all done when I was working fulltime.
April's task list
My takeaway is don’t rake or expose your perennial garden beds too early in the spring. Actually, later is better. Concentrate on other garden activities. April is the month to:
- Rake off excess mulch or leaves
- Cut back dead foliage
- Plant the vegetable garden
- Plant annuals
- Divide some perennials
- Shop for plants (This is my favorite task.)
Happy Spring Gardening.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ella Maxwell, Extension Master Gardener serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell counties
Ella Maxwell is a long-time gardener. Currently she is a horticulturist at Hoerr Nursery in Peoria, Illinois. Ella has many horticultural interests. She is a Master Gardener, certified arborist, panelist on Mid-American Gardening, member of Peoria Garden Club and Central Illinois Hosta Society. She has also started her home apiary.