Spring Cleanup!
We are finally seeing double-digit highs and the snow is nowhere in sight! If the prospect of Spring leaves you wondering what you can do to get your garden and yard ready, read on…
Yard Cleanup:
Winter sure knows how to leave a mess behind! Start your Spring Cleanup in April with raking your lawn. Doing this as soon as possible will help to prevent snow-moulding. A deep raking wil also control thatch that builds up. Removing any refuse from your planting bed, and remove dead leaves and stalks on your Perennials. Prepare by turning the soil with a spade to help aerate the soil and leave your garden beds ready to sow!
Sowing:
What is sowing you may ask? Sow is the process of planting a seed, and Sowing is the green-thumb way of saying an area where you plant your seeds! Last month we covered some of the best seeds to sow in March, we will continue to share the types of seeds you should be sowing during the spring months to have a healthy full-grown garden by harvest!
Sow indoors the first two weeks of April: Sow Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Swiss chard
These Cole crops are best started early in April. This gives them lots of time to mature and leave you with the best yielding harvest possible. A few varieties you can leave until later in April are: Cucumbers, Beans, Melons, Squash, Pumpkins, Watermelon, Zucchini, Basil, Cilantro, Dill.
Pruning:
Most deciduous trees, fruit trees should be trimmed between February and April before their leaves emerge. Prune spring flowering trees and shrubs right after they bloom. Prune later flowering trees and shrubs in the early spring as this will help the plant to set new buds for the next season.
Prune at least 2 weeks after blooming before next seasons buds begin setting but be careful not to trim more than 1/3 of the tree. Elm trees are banned from trimming from April 13 to Sept 30th to avoid spreading Dutch Elm Disease.
Spruce and Fir trees can be trimmed up to April, but pines should not be trimmed until summer.
Maples and Birches should not be pruned in the spring but after leaves appear as this will be when less sap will be produced.
We hope you have a good idea where to start in your yard this spring! With all this nice weather and hard work around the corner it’s best to get a head start. As always, if you have ideas for future topics please send an email to info@floralacres.ca