Help for Homeowners

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This web site is provided as a service to consumers by members of the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA).

GardenMinnesota Calendar: Spring

General Spring Season Tips:

Begin feeding bulbs with liquid fertilizer as they emerge from the ground.
Remove dead leaves from hostas.
Prune summer-flowering shrubs in early spring before new growth, since they usually bloom from new wood.

April

Uncover and remove winter mulch from roses, spring bulbs, and perennials.
Divide and replant overgrown perennials.
Till flower and vegetable garden soil and add composted cow manure, rice hulls, peat moss, or composted leaves.
Remove rose cones.
Plant frost-tolerant pansies and Johnny-jump-ups for early spring color.
Plant trees and shrubs as soon as the ground is dry enough for digging; late frost and snow will not hurt newly planted trees.
Apply fresh mulch around trees and shrubs for weed control.
Prune hedges and summer-flowering shrubs. Check for damage and remove broken branches.
Remove tree wrap when snow melts.
Fertilize trees and shrubs.
Apply crabgrass preventer to lawns.
Fertilize spring bulbs when foliage emerges.
Wait until the ground is frost free before removing mulch; if temperatures rise early in the season, remove part of the mulch but leave at least two to three inches.
Till or spade the soil deeply; if desired, add a slow-release flower-garden fertilizer.
Evergreens can be pruned at almost any time except late in the growing season

Work fertilizer into vegetable and flower gardens before they are planted.
Fertilize roses and begin maintenance program against black spot and mildew.
Mulch flower gardens to conserve moisture and reduce weed growth.
Install peony hoops.
Protect gardens from deer browsing.
Plant summer-blooming bulbs.
Plant Minnesota Grown annuals and geraniums after frost is no longer a danger.
Apply pre-emergent weed control in shrub and planting beds.
Remove accumulated leaves and debris from underneath evergreens and shrubs.
Prune forsythia, azaleas, and lilacs after they have flowered; all spring-flowering shrubs should be pruned right after flowering.
Begin apple-tree spray programs after blossoms drop.
Make sure freshly planted trees and shrubs are watered weekly, especially during dry periods. Continue to water through the season.
Prune mugho pines when new growth is fully grown and soft.
Fertilize established trees, evergreens, and shrubs. Start a fertilizer program.
Rake, overseed, and fertilize the lawn. Avoid applying crabgrass preventer to newly overseeded areas. Seed new lawns while nights are still cool and the weather is wet.
Control dandelions and creeping Charlie by applying herbicide before heads are formed.
If spring-flowering bulbs aren’t doing well, dig up bulbs after the foliage has died and divide.