Lots To Do

Lots going on in the yard now. Bulbs are popping in earnest, buds are swelling and opening, grass is growing. There is a lot you can do now to make the spring better and promote lots of new growth. All ornamental grasses should be cut back to the ground. The old top growth is just in the way. You should see the buds on your roses now. Cut them back to remove anything that died back over winter. If you don't see any buds cut them down pretty low and watch for new growth. Dead wood on roses is dark brown and not green like live wood. Spirea and Potentilla get a good cutting now too. You can cut them back to about 6 inches. Remove any dead branches on evergreens. If it's brown now it's not coming back. Last years perennials get cut back to the ground now too. It's also a good time to apply any pre-emergent to the beds. Doing this now will promote new growth, clean things up and make late spring more enjoyable.