Spring is the perfect time to check your shrubs for winter damage. Start by pruning out any dead or weakened wood to keep plants healthy and strong. For Dogwood shrubs, remove about one-third of the older canes that have lost their vibrant color. This encourages fresh, beautiful growth. Remember, spring-flowering shrubs like Lilac, Forsythia, and Mock Orange should be pruned after they finish blooming, not before.
April is also an excellent time to give your lawn the care it needs to thrive. Core aeration helps relieve soil compaction and allows water, air, and nutrients to reach the root zone. When aerating, aim to pull plugs about two to three inches deep. If your soil is dry after a long winter, you may need to water first to get good plug depth. Once you've aerated, it's the perfect opportunity to overseed bare or thin areas, helping your lawn grow thicker and more resilient. And remember, setting your mower height to two-and-a-half to three inches encourages deeper roots and a healthier turf.
When applying pre-emergence, timing is everything. Pre-emergent products stop weeds before they start by suppressing seeds as they germinate. For best results, apply when soil temperatures are between 55 and 70 degrees. You can also follow nature's cues-apply after the Forsythia blooms, but before the Lilac begins to flower. Apply at the right time now and enjoy fewer weeds all season long.
As your garden wakes up this spring, a little patience goes a long way. Gently remove winter mulch from roses and perennials as new growth begins-but don't rush to clean everything up. That leftover plant debris provides valuable habitat for beneficial pollinators. Keep an eye on tender new growth, too, and be ready to cover plants if a late freeze is in the forecast. Remember, soil temperature matters more than air temperature when it comes to planting. Also consider the 70/30 planting rule. Seventy percent of your garden should be dedicated to reliable, structural, or native plants to provide stability, support local ecosystems, and thrive year after year. The remaining thirty percent is your space to have fun with seasonal color, new varieties, and creative touches. This simple balance keeps your landscape sustainable, resilient, and visually interesting year-round. Start with strong roots-and let the rest inspire you.
