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Photo: Julie Martens Forney
Clean the Garden
Early spring bulbs like dwarf crested iris (Iris reticulata) appear long before spring garden cleanup begins. When cleaning up last year’s stems and autumn leaves, take care not to crush or cover spring bulb blooms, leaves or shoots.
Not sure when to tackle garden cleanup? The right time is after seven days of 50-degree temperatures. This timing gives beneficial insects, which hide among garden debris, a chance to wake up and exit their winter quarters. If you spot shoots poking through a heap of leaves, pull them aside gently. Wear gloves, because you might stir a sleepy bumblebee queen.