Check List for Spring

Here are some tasks that can be done at any time in the spring, followed by other that are separate for early, mid-, and late spring.

  • Start Seeds Indoors. Get your vegetables or flowers off to a quick start by growing seedlings. This is also a great way to try at least one new plant or vegetable this year that you always wanted to grow.
  • Attend a Flower Show. It's a great way to check out new plants, products, and the talent of local designers.            The Garden Club of Virginia sponsors three flower shows annually. Both members and non-members are encouraged to participate and attend.                

     

    Capital Home & Garden Show

    February 24 - 27

    The Capital Home & Garden Show is the biggest Home & Garden Show in the Northern Virginia/Washington D.C. area with over 500 exhibits! See thousands of ideas and products covering remodeling.

    Website: www.capitalhomeshow.com


    For more information on flower shows contact:

    The Garden Club of Virginia
    12 East Franklin Street
    Richmond, Virginia 23219

  • Visit Your County Extension Services. Check out the wealth of information available - these are your tax dollars at work, so take advantage of it. Your extension service offers service offers countless pamphlets on everything from aphids to Zoysia grass.

    For Loudoun County residents go to:

    http://www.loudoun.gov/extension/home.htm

    For Fairfax County residents:

    http://www.fairfaxmastergardeners.com/

  • Clean Your Tools. This one should have been on your fall chore list, but it's a easy to let it slip by. Grab and chair and get started.

  • Use a Pressure Washer. Clean off your patio, decks, walks, and other hardscaping in need of cleaning.

  • Tie Up Climbing Vines. Tie up loose vines that may have grown over the winter. If needed, purchase handy hook-and-loop strips from South Riding Nurseries.

  • Clean and Sterilize Pots. A lot of fungal diseases are soilborne. With an empty container Use a stiff brush and a solution of part bleach and five parts water to clean pots inside and out.

  • Feed the Birds.  Early spring can be tough on our feathered friends. Clean and repair old birdhouses and birdfeeders and set out new ones. South Riding Nurseries has a full line of Audubon Feeders and birdhouses.

  • Start a Compost Bin. Now is the perfect time to add one, if you don't have one already, because you can add all of the clippings from your spring cleaning.

Lawn Care

 

Early Spring

  • Test Your Soil. If you really want accurate advice on your lawn needs, contact your extension agency and ask for instructions for collecting soil samples for the agency to analyze. http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/compost/452-129/452-129.html

  • Apply Pre-emergence Weed Control. When the forsythia blooms in your area it is time to put it down. This will drastically reduce the number of weeds in your lawn.

Mid-Spring

  • Apply Fertilizer. When grass begins to green up and is actively growing it is time to lay down the fertilizer.

  • Aerate. Many lawn experts now believe you can skip dethatching in favor of aerating because it essentially does the same thing-gets air, water, and nutrients through the thatch layer.

  • Top-dress Your Lawn. Do it with a thin layer of weed-free compost. This is most effective if you aerate your lawn first.

Late Spring

  • Apply Grub Control, if needed.  In spring, grubs dig their way from their deep winter burrows to feed on grass roots, and later this causes the turf to succumb to drought.

  • Irrigate Your Lawn. If spring rains are lacking, don't wait too long and let your turf get stressed. Maintain deep, healthy grass roots by watering deeply and less frequently rather than shallow, frequent waterings.

Planting Beds

 

Early Spring

  • 20Plant a New Bed. Or plant an entirely new garden. Be sure you know your U.S. Department of Agriculture growing zone, sun exposure, and dimensions of your space before buying plants. Come to South Riding Nurseries if you need help finding out any of that information.

  • Cultivate Beds. Do this before planting annuals and vegetables. Cultivate when soil is moist but not wet.

  • Plant Cold-hardy Annuals. Plant Pansies, snapdragons, wallflowers, stock, and ornamental cabbage and kale, as soon as soil is workable.

  • Begin Planting Cold-hardy Vegetables. Plant onions, shallots, potatoes, cabbages, artichokes, kale, mustard greens, broccoli, spinach, peas, and parsley after the hard freezes have passed.

Mid Spring

  • Remove All Mulch and Covering from Plants. Discard any mulch that shows signs of mold or mildew.

  • Mulch Leaves. Remove all leaves that remain on lawn or in beds. Evergreen needled and small leaves break down quickly, but large, such as oak, magnolia, and maple, should be shredded before added to beds.

  • Turn Under Winter Cover Crops. Do it by using a garden fork or tiller.

Late Spring

  • Sow Tender Vegetables. After the danger of frost has passed start plating tomatoes, corn, squash, beans, peppers, eggplant, and cucumbers.

  • Edge Your Beds. Creating a clean edge between lawn and beds is one of the best things you can do to maintain an attractive landscape.

  • Fertilize. Fertilizing too early can ruin spring flowering and encourage tender new growth that may get zapped by a late freeze.

Dividing Perennials

 

Early Spring

  • Look for Signs. Perennials may need to be divided. If you notice stems emerging in a circular pattern with dead space in the center, the plant needs to be divided.

  • Don't Forget Your House Plants. Satisfy that deep-seated need to start gardening by dividing and repotting your houseplants.

Mid Spring

  • Divide Soft Perennials by Hand. For least amount of damage to the plant and the quickest recovery time.

Late Spring

  • Check Summer Bulbs. In storage if they are shriveled, moldy, or mushy, toss them out. After the danger of frost has passed, divide and plant healthy bulbs for a spectacular summer long display.

  • Dig and Divide. Divide daylilies, hostas and bearded irises. Most other perennials prefer to be divided in early or mid spring as foliage emerges. 

If you Have any further question, please do not hesitate to contact us and speak with a specialist.

 

info@southridingnurseries.com or call 703-327-5161