If you think just because it's cold outside there's no gardening to do, then master gardener Paul James has some news for you. There's plenty to do in the flower beds and yard as long as there is no snow and the ground is not frozen. One of the most important tasks is cleanup, especially in the garden beds. James offers the following tips for getting your beds ready for spring:
- First, gather up fallen branches, leaves and other debris that may have made its way into your flower beds during the blustery days of winter. Be careful not to step on any developing perennials.
- Next, remove all dead, brown foliage from perennial plants by cutting them back almost to ground level. This is important because some foliage may harbor fungal diseases and fungal spores that can overwinter in the soil and return next spring. Don't get in a hurry to cut back foliage, however; as long as the plant is a little green, it is still photosynthesizing, which means it is growing.
- The next step is to rake the flower bed clean. Watch what you are doing because you don't want to damage the crowns of perennials. Be careful where you step, and use a plastic or bamboo rake. Draw the rake lightly around the plant. Place any disease-free refuse in the compost pile.
- Use a metal rake to carefully draw the top of existing mulch off the bed, and apply a fresh layer of compost. As plants develop during the growing season, they take nutrients out of the ground; at some point, nutrients need to be returned to the soil. Use a shovel to toss the compost, then rake to smooth and spread the compost over the entire flowerbed.
- For a cosmetic finishing touch, dig along the flower bed using a border spade. Cut and trim the edge, tossing the soil and mulch back to the bed with each cut. If you want to, line the flower bed with edging material that matches surroundings or, for a natural look, use no edging material at all. Keep in mind, though, that if you have Bermuda grass, it can spread like wildfire into the flower beds, so you may want to use some type of border material to keep back the grass.
- The final step in cleaning up the flower bed is to apply a fresh layer of mulch. James suggests using shredded bark because it holds color well and deters insects.
