Start Spring with a Fresh, New Look

After the dreary grays and browns of winter, the bright new growth of spring is a welcome surprise. One way to really highlight spring’s burst into bloom is with a garden clean-up and fresh mulch, with a crisp bed edge.

Cutting back old, dead perennial stems and dried flower heads on shrubs helps to make way for new growth. Be careful when cutting old perennials close to the ground- new, emerging foliage is very tender and easily damaged.

A good spade edge on your garden beds should last all season long, and if your gardens have been mulched in seasons past, it may be that all they need is a topdressing of fresh new mulch to give them that well-groomed appearance. In any case, never apply mulch to a depth of greater than 3”, and keep a few inches away from the base of trees and shrubs. Natural composted hardwood mulches are best; dyed mulches are often composed of raw scrap wood which can contribute to nutrient deficiencies in the soil.

After your spring garden clean-up, you can relax and watch your landscape beds grow and evolve with each passing season.

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