Springtime Landscaping and Gardening Tips
Enjoy Your Beautiful Spring Garden
Spring officially began on March 20th and this year the spectacular Pacific Northwest cherry blossoms arrived right on time. Since then spring has been blooming all around us. While we may have some gray skies and rainy days ahead, we’re fortunate to be surrounded by a rainbow of colorful flowers. If you’re a homeowner, that means spring landscaping is already on your mind.
Landscaping needs change with the seasons. This month we’ve put together a list of springtime tips and guidelines to help your garden reach its full potential.
- Time To Plant Your Annuals
Spring is the perfect time to begin seeding annuals. If you have plants that have started already, they can begin to go in the ground. Keep your plants well-fertilized, but be careful about watering. Surprise rainstorms and strict watering schedules can sometimes result in overwatering.
- Pruning Matters
If you haven’t already been doing so, get to it. Pruning spring flowering shrubs after they have finished blooming encourages new blooms.
Pines, broadleaf evergreens, and needleleaf evergreens should only be pruned this month or next, when they are in the soft candle stage.
- Don’t Rush
We know it’s exciting when you can finally get outside and tackle your landscaping projects, but don’t try to do everything at once. Many plants, including most warm-season vegetables, won’t thrive if planted in cold, wet soil. Hold off on tomatoes, peppers, corn, eggplants, beans, and squash until nighttime temperatures stay above 50 degrees.
- Plant for Beneficials
Beneficials are insects that help with your landscape management by acting as pollinators and natural pest deterrents. A few known beneficial-attracting plants include parsley, cosmos, purple coneflower, sage, thyme, and bee balm.
- Don’t Forget the Fertilizer
Just like people, young plants need nourishment to grow up big and strong. Remember to feed your plants with high-quality, all-natural fertilizer. Composting is a wonderful natural fertilization method, but there are plenty of quality fertilizers on the market if you don’t want to deal with the hassle.
Landscape and gardening care is a favorite weekend activity for many Portlanders. If you’re busy juggling work and family obligations, and just can’t give your garden the time and attention it needs, it’s okay to ask for help. Let the experts at Landscape East and West do the work so you can sit back and enjoy your beautiful spring landscape.
