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If
you didn't cut back perennials and clean up flower beds in the fall,
begin to do these tasks this month before new spring growth appears.
If you wait too long to begin clean up tasks you are likely to
damage delicate new growth . |
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Add
compost and/or other organic matter to flower beds and vegetable
plots when the soil is dry and the ground isn't frozen. Be sure to
mix these soil amendments thoroughly into the soil rather than
leaving them as a layer on top. |
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If
you plan to order bare-root roses, order them now and specify
mid-March delivery. Bare-root roses often offer gardeners a
wider selection and lower prices than are available for packaged
roses and roses potted in containers. Try to buy Grade #1 roses
rather than Grade #1 1/2 or Grade #2. Grade #1 roses have more
canes and the canes are larger sized. If you prefer to see
what you're getting and don't mind paying a bit more, wait until
late spring to buy roses planted in containers at your local garden
center. |
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Continue
winter watering.
Keep in mind that snow sometimes provides little moisture.
Therefore, you should check the soil for dryness. Areas
with a southern or western exposure are especially likely to need
water if there has been little or no snowfall. |
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Prune
trees and shrubs, if needed, just before buds open. Remove
branches that interfere with others, weak branches and ones that are
growing vertical, creating a narrow crotch angle. No more than
1/4 of the branches/stems should be removed per year. Avoid
topping branches (cutting off the tips) and shearing shrubs, which
can lead to weakened, pest-prone plants. Application of a
wound dressing is no longer recommended. Wait to prune lilacs
and forsythias until after they flower. Also, wait until after
they leaf out to prune maple, birch and walnut trees. These
trees drip lots of sap ("bleed") if pruned during winter or early
spring. |
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If
heavy snowfall occurs this month, use a broom to lift up branches
and gently shake off the snow. Don't press down on branches because
this pressure plus the weight of the snow could cause them to break. |
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If you had severe
problems with aphids, scales or mites last year, you may want to spray
infested trees and shrubs with a horticultural (dormant) oil to kill over-wintering
stages of these pests. Dormant oils should be applied while the
plant is dormant; that is, it hasn't formed buds or leafed out.
Apply the spray when the temperature is above freezing, the plants are
dry, and there is no chance for rain. Be aware that some plants,
for example black walnut, junipers, maples and spruce, are sensitive
to oils. Carefully read and follow label instructions.
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