Show #131 - Early Spring Garden Checklist: What to Do When Spring Arrives

After an extremely cold winter, spring gardening often arrives in a rush. Snow melts quickly, temperatures rise, and suddenly gardens burst back to life. In this episode of Great Gardens Radio, we explore what happens when spring arrives early — and what gardeners should do right now to prepare lawns, plants, and gardens for the growing season.

Nature Always Finds Balance

Nature works through a system of checks and balances. After a tough winter, spring often accelerates quickly, giving gardeners a short window to accomplish many seasonal tasks.

But before jumping into work, take a moment to enjoy the transition. The first signs of spring — crocus, snowdrops, daffodils, and hyacinths — bring color back to landscapes that have been gray all winter.

These early flowers are the reward for planting bulbs the previous year.

Fertilize Spring Bulbs as They Emerge

When bulbs begin emerging, fertilizing them helps extend their bloom and build energy reserves for the following year.

Benefits of fertilizing early:

• Supports stronger spring blooms
• Replenishes nutrients after flowering
• Stores energy for next year’s flowers

If late frost threatens, covering flowers with blankets can protect delicate blooms.

Tulips will follow these early bulbs shortly after the first wave of spring color.

Early Spring Garden Cleanup

March is the perfect time to clean up winter debris and prepare beds for the season.

Helpful tasks include:

• Vacuum lawn debris with a bagged mower
• Remove dead foliage from mulch beds
• Clear leftover winter plant material

Cleaning early is helpful because many plants and perennials will soon emerge with delicate new growth.

Trim and Feed Shrubs Now

Early spring is the best time to trim and fertilize many shrubs and evergreen plants.

Plants to trim now include:

• Holly
• Arborvitae
• Yews
• Nandina
• Roses

After trimming:

1. Fertilize with Plant Trust or Fertilome’s Start-n-Grow
2. Apply mulch
3. Spread Gallery over the mulch to prevent weeds

This early timing protects delicate emerging plants from damage during mulching.

Cold Winter Rule: Trim and Feed More

Gardeners follow an old rule:

“The harder the winter, the harder the trim.”

After harsh winters:

• Trim shrubs more aggressively
• Fertilize plants more heavily
• Encourage stronger regrowth

Summer bloomers benefit most from early trimming, including:

• Crape myrtle
• Smoke tree
• Spirea
• Butterfly bush

Spring bloomers should not be trimmed until after flowering.

Revive Cool-Season Flowers

If you planted pansies or violas, early spring is the time to refresh them.

Simple steps:

• Remove messy winter foliage
• Fertilize with Garden Trust
• Encourage new blooms and vibrant color

These flowers should be bright highlights in the landscape during early spring.

Early Lawn Care Steps

Lawns should also receive attention as spring begins.

Important tasks:

• Fertilize lawns immediately
• Lime if not applied in the past year
• Apply Gallery to prevent broadleaf weeds

However, wait until April 15 to apply Dimension for summer weeds like crabgrass.

Understanding Winter Weeds

The weeds appearing now are all leafy winter weeds.

Common examples include:

• Hairy bittercress
• Henbit

There are over 160 winter broadleaf weeds.

Gallery prevents them before they germinate. If weeds are already present, they should be killed quickly before they grow larger or produce seeds.

A common gardening rule applies:

“One year of weeds, seven years of seeds.”

Special Case: Stiltgrass

Stiltgrass behaves differently than most weeds.

Key facts:

• Thrives in shade
• Prefers moist areas
• Can spread aggressively across lawns

To prevent it:

• Apply Dimension by March 20

Existing stiltgrass can be selectively controlled with products like Fusilade.

Start Vegetable Seeds Indoors

Late winter and early spring are prime times for indoor seed starting.

You may already be late for some cool crops, including:

• Spinach
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Brussels sprouts
• Radishes

However, tomatoes and peppers should be started indoors now.

Use quality seed-starting soil that contains beneficial additives like:

• Humates
• Mycorrhizae

Seed trays and humidity domes help maintain warmth and moisture during germination.

When to Plant Vegetables Outdoors

Cool-season vegetables can be planted outdoors once soil becomes workable.

However, warm-season crops require patience.

Tomatoes and peppers should not be planted outdoors until May 1 or Mother’s Day, because soil temperatures remain too cold earlier in spring.

Warm air in March does not mean warm soil.

What’s Happening at the Garden Center

March is a major transition month for garden centers.

New plant shipments arrive from across the country, including high-quality crops from Oregon.

Available now:

• Pansies
• Violas
• Ranunculus
• Flowering trees
• Fruiting trees

Garden centers are rapidly filling with early-season plants as spring progresses.

Prepare for March Weather Surprises

March weather is unpredictable.

It is also the windiest month of the year, and early warm spells can lead to sudden frost or freeze events.

Keep protective blankets nearby to cover sensitive plants during cold nights.

Spring Lawn Seeding Warning

A common mistake is seeding sunny lawns in spring while using crabgrass preventer.

Crabgrass preventers stop all grass seeds, including desirable lawn seed.

The only way to seed sunny lawns in spring is by using Tenacity, a selective herbicide that allows grass seed to germinate while preventing crabgrass.

Recommended approach:

• Apply Tenacity around April 15–20

Follow with Dimension around June 1