6 Smart Gardener Tips for Spring

3 Things You Should Do in Spring

1). Mulch, Mulch, Mulch!

A smart gardener always mulches in the Spring! Mulch your trees and shrubs, but be sure to use the appropriate mulch. Pine mulches are ideal for acid loving trees and shrubs (like roses, azaleas, and rhododendrons). Pine mulches are also great if you enjoy the smell of fresh pine!

Hardwood based mulches are also good, particularly if you like dark brown or natural looking mulch. Midnight Mulch™ is a deep black color, perfect for highlighting colors in your landscaping.

2). Plant Perennials Now!

Tennessee is great for planting Black-eyed Susans and Coneflowers in sunny areas, Hostas and Hydrangeas in shady areas. We also recommend Lenten Roses if you have deer who think your garden is a salad bar!

3). Mow Your Lawn Properly!

Rather than raking up grass clippings, save time and energy by using a mulching mower to let your grass clippings be your lawn’s fertilizer. Mow at four inches high, so your grass overcomes your weeds.

Three Things You Should Not Do in Spring

1). Do Not Plant Grass Seed!

Tennessee lawns are best when planted with Fescue grass in the Fall. Fescue is a cool season grass, and is stressed by intense summer heat. Smart gardeners seed with Fescue in Fall. That way, the grass roots have time to establish themselves over Winter and Spring. Only with a sprinkler system and sod do gardeners have a snowball’s chance at establishing new Fescue lawns in Spring, and even then it’s a challenge.

2). Wait Until Summer for Topsoil Projects!

Due to Spring rainfall, even screened and blended topsoils are often heavy, clumpy, and wet in Spring. By summer, topsoil is dry, fine, and light.

If you must work with topsoil in Spring, rent a Dingo (a small hydraulic walk-on loader) from Lowes or Home Depot to move the topsoil around your property. Wheelbarrows and spades are not the way to go!

3). Don’t Prune Anything Without Doing Your Homework First!

Consult a landscaping website or tree guide before pruning. The rule of thumb is, “Know before you prune!” Spring is generally not the time to prune most plants, however, some shrubs can be pruned in Spring. It just depends on the species. Healthy Magnolias, Lilacs, and Forsythia can be pruned in Spring, but only after they bloom. For trees, it’s OK to prune off dead or damaged wood in Spring.

Here’s to a Great Spring Season Spent in the Garden!

If you need mulch or topsoil for this season’s outdoor projects, we have the best mulch in Nashville! Simply visit our website to place an order, respond to this email, or call our office at (615) 356.2600.