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This article is the second and final part of the spring garden preparation series.

Spring is the perfect time to plan your garden and landscape. In Northern Alabama, this period begins in January and continues to the first week of April. As a person’s location shifts to the southern part of the state, the period is earlier by two to three weeks. Northern Alabama is considered a transition zone and usually experiences a late frost that may come as late as the first week of April. For this reason, Extension professionals always caution against planting tender plants before the late frost. However, as more consistent warmer weather approaches here is a checklist of things you can do to make seasonal planting a success.

Soil Test

If you haven’t conducted a soil test in two to three years, consider doing so. Contact your local county Extension office for details, instructions, and free tests kits.

Lawn Care

  • Clear leaves and debris that may have accumulated over the fall and winter months. Use the debris as a foundation for a compost pile.
  • The application of a lawn preemergent will greatly reduce weed problems during the growing season. Don’t waste an application of any fertilizer on your lawn until temperatures start warming up and green growth is observed.
  • Survey and address any troubled or damaged areas of grass. Consider reseeding or resodding and prepare the area accordingly.

Trees and Shrubs

  • Prune dead, diseased, or damaged branches.
  • Remove crossing branches and structurally weak branches (narrow crotch angles).
  • Remove any suckers and water sprouts.
  • Cut back branches that are encroaching on walkways.
  • If it blooms before May 1, prune after flowering but no later than early July for blooms on ‘old’ wood.
  • If it blooms after May 1, prune before new growth begins in the spring (blooms on ‘new’ wood).
  • Trim overgrown evergreens back to a branch whose direction you wish to encourage.
  • Trim shrubs to maintain preferred size.
  • Replenish and redistribute mulch around trees and shrubs. Do not mound mulch directly around the base of trees.

Perennials & Ornamental Grasses

  • Divide and replant any perennials that show slow or stunted growth.
  • When replanting perennials inspect for healthy roots and crowns. Place them in a hole at least two times larger than the plant root ball. Backfill with native soil. Soil can be amended with organic material and slow-release fertilizer.
  • Clear any extra mulch and debris covering perennials to allow for increased exposure to sunlight and increasing temperatures.
  • Cut back ornamental grasses to six to twelve inches from the ground.

Beds & Border

  • Clear out any remaining plant debris in the beds.
  • Remove old mulch and inspect the fabric barrier. If you have not used a weed barrier or an irrigation system under the mulch, now is the time to install a fabric weed barrier or landscape fabric and irrigations lines and emitters. This will help deter weeds and help with moisture management.
  • Inspect and repair any hardscape borders and redefine bed edges if necessary.
  • Inspect and replace any irrigation lines and emitters.
  • Replace old mulch. At least three inches in depth is recommended to be effective for weed and moisture management.
  • Prepare annual beds, revitalize area and soil by breaking up large clods, adding additional organic material and slow-release fertilizer, and tilling to a depth of six to eight inches.

Garden Beds

  • Clear out any plant debris from fall/winter crops. Use the disease-free debris to replenish your compost pile.
  • If used, remove, and inspect the plastic culture barrier. Replace if necessary, usually every two to three years.
  • Inspect and replace drip lines, irrigation lines, and emitters.
  • Inspect and repair raised bed structures and trellises.
  • Plan garden layout to determine if the irrigation system requires redistribution.
  • Replenish raised bed garden soil, preferably every two years. This can be done by adding additional organic amendments with new garden soil.
  • In-ground garden soils, amend based upon soil test recommendations. Conduct a soil test every two to three years.

Composting

  • Use the disease-free debris and leaves from beds, and gardens to replenish your compost pile. Do not use grass clippings from treated lawns. Instead, consider using a mulching lawnmower to replenish your lawn during the growing season.
  • Compost that is ready can be used to prepare and replenish flower and garden beds. Compost is ready when it has a uniform dark brown to black appearance with no recognizable pieces of material. This assures that all material has been successfully broken down.
  • Kitchen scraps can be used. Do not use any meat, dairy products, or vegetable oils in the compost pile.
  • Try and maintain an internal pile temperature of 135-145° F. This will ensure beneficial microbes will thrive and decompose the composted materials.
  • Turning the compost pile every two to three days will also help with the decomposition process.

Visit www.aces.edu for more information on spring lawn and garden care.