The weather is getting warmer and soon we will be opening our pools
and getting the rust off the grill.

Here are some spring Gardening tips that really help make our gardens
grow and fill out nicely.

Follow the 10 tips outlined below for a welcoming garden that's
filled with color and fragrance -- and song.

Survey the Yard

Make note of tree limbs that should be removed or cabled, especially
those that overhang structures. Hire an arborist to maintain large
trees.Cut down last year's perennial foliage, and toss it into the
compost pile. Rake mulch from beds planted with bulbs before foliage
appears, and refresh mulch in other planting areas after soil warms.
Check fences, steps, and pathways for disrepair caused by freezing and
thawing.

Order Tools and Plants

Tune up your gas powered tools so everything is ready when things
start growing. Make note of what is missing, and order tools for the
new growing season. Choose new plants for the garden. Order
perennials, trees, and shrubs for spring planting.

Get Ready to Mow

Send the mower and leaf blower for servicing, or if you have the
right tools, sharpen the mower blades yourself. Refill your mower with
oil, install fresh spark plugs, and lubricate moving parts if
necessary. Clear the lawn of winter debris, and look for areas that
need re seeding before mowing.

Prune Trees and Shrubs

Remove dead, damaged, and diseased branches from woody plants. Thin
and trim summer-blooming shrubs such as butterfly bush, hydrangea, and
most roses, except for old-fashioned once bloomers. Prune cold-damaged
wood after plants resume spring growth. Prune spring-blooming shrubs
and trees after flowering.

Take a Soil Test

Check soil pH with a home soil- test kit, taking several samples from
different planting areas for an accurate reading. Enrich soil as
necessary: Add dolomitic lime to raise the pH or elemental sulfur to
lower the pH. Mushroom soil works great for lawns aand beds when
spread out over existing. 1 yard is enough to treat an area of 10x10.

Prepare New Beds

Clear the planting area as soon as soil can be worked, removing sod
or weeds and debris. Spread a 4-inch layer of mushroom compost or
well-rotted manure and any amendments over soil, and cultivate it to a
depth of 10 to 12 inches with a spading fork or roto tiller. If you
dont have you can rent it.

Plant

Plant bare-root trees, shrubs, and perennials such as hostas and
daylilies by early spring. Choose a cool, cloudy day if possible.
Transplant container-grown plants anytime during the growing season
except midsummer; be sure to water them thoroughly. Sow seeds of
cool-season flowers like sweet peas, poppies, and calendula, and
vegetables such as lettuce, parsley, and spinach.

Fertilize

Apply balanced fertilizer (6-6-6 or 8-8-8), fish emulsion, or other
soil amendments recommended by soil-test results around trees and
shrubs when new growth appears. Spread high-acid fertilizer and
pine-needle mulch around acid-loving shrubs like azaleas and
camellias. Begin fertilizing perennials when active growth resumes.

Start a Compost Pile

Start a compost pile, or use a compost bin, if you don't have one
already. Begin by collecting plant debris and leaves raked up from the
garden. Chop these up first to speed decomposition. Add equal amounts
"brown" (carbon-rich) materials like dried leaves and straw and
"green" (nitrogen-rich) materials like grass clippings and weeds in
even layers with water and a compost bio activator. Turn regularly.
Continue adding to the pile throughout the season for rich, homemade
compost next spring.

Clean Bird Feeders and Baths

Disinfect the feeders by scrubbing with weak bleach solution (1/4 cup
bleach: 2 gallons warm water). Rinse and dry the feeders thoroughly
before refilling them .Scrub birdbaths with bleach solution, then
rinse them thoroughly and refill, changing water weekly. Clean
birdbaths and feeders regularly throughout the season.

It is certainly time now to plant our Cold Hardy Palm trees, we have
great inventory of all sizes.