Become a Member
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Instagram
Pinterest
  • New Plants
    • New Plants Search
    • Green Thumb Award Winners
  • Year Of Plants
    • Year of the Amaryllis
      • Amaryllis Pictures
    • Year of the Broccoli
      • Broccoli Pictures
    • Year of the Celosia
      • Celosia Pictures
    • Year of the Orchid
      • Orchid Pictures
    • Year of the Rudbeckia
      • Rudbeckia Pictures
    • Year of the Spirea
      • Spirea Pictures
    • 2022 Year Of Plants
      • Year of the Gladiolus
        • Gladiolus Pictures
      • Year of the Lilac
        • Lilac Pictures
      • Year of the Peperomia
        • Peperomia Pictures
      • Year of the Phlox
        • Phlox Pictures
      • Year of the Salad Greens
        • Salad Greens Pictures
      • Year of the Verbena
        • Verbena Pictures
    • 2021 Year Of Plants
      • Year of the Hardy Hibiscus
        • Hardy Hibiscus Pictures
      • Year of the Garden Bean
        • Garden Bean Pictures
      • Year of the Hyacinth
        • Hyacinth Pictures
      • Year of the Monarda
        • Monarda Pictures
      • Year of the Sunflower
        • Sunflower Pictures
        • #YearoftheSunflower Video Contest Winners
    • 2020 Year Of Plants
      • Year of the Lavender
        • Lavender Pictures
      • Year of the Lantana
        • Lantana Pictures
      • Year of the Hydrangea
        • Hydrangea Pictures
      • Year of the Iris
        • Iris Pictures
      • Year of the Corn
        • Corn Pictures
    • 2019 Year Of Plants
      • Year of the Snapdragon
        • Snapdragon Pictures
      • Year of the Dahlia
        • Dahlia pictures
      • Year of the Pumpkin
        • Pumpkin Pictures
      • Year of the Salvia nemorosa
        • Salvia nemorosa pictures
    • 2018 Year Of Plants
      • Year of the Coreopsis
        • Coreopsis Pictures
      • Year of the Tulip
        • Tulip Pictures
      • Year of the Calibrachoa
        • Calibrachoa Pictures
      • Year of the Beet
        • Beet Pictures
    • 2017 Year Of Plants
      • Year of the Daffodil
        • Daffodil Pictures
      • Year of the Brassica
        • Brassica Pictures
      • Year of the Rose
        • Rose Pictures
      • Year of the Pansy
        • Pansy Pictures
  • Combo Ideas
  • Inspiration
    • NGB Blog
    • FAQs
    • Newsletter
    • Pinterest
    • Promote Gardening
    • #YearoftheSunflower Video Contest Winners
    • Snapdragon Video Winners
  • Education
    • Member Blogs
    • Books
    • Online Courses
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • Products
    • Garden Books
    • Garden Décor
    • Garden Tools
    • Green Thumb Award Winners
  • Shop Members
    • United States
    • Canada
  • Garden Grant
    • Grant Application
    • Therapeutic Grant Program
  • Contact
5 Essential gardening tips - national garden bureau

5 Essential Spring Gardening Tips

Garden Planning & Design, How-to, Planting TipsMarch 9, 2023gail

Spring is full of new life, green grass, and sunshine! It’s also time to get back into the garden.

Here are some tips to keep you and your garden on track this spring.

1. Remove Winter Protection

In the fall or early winter, you may have added some winter protection, like mulch or leaves, to the base of your plants to keep them warm throughout the cold season. When spring hits, it’s important to remove that winter protection. Mulch acts as an insulator, and when the sunshine and warm temps return, your plants won’t need any more help to keep warm.

Wait until the last snowfall or final deep freeze to remove any winter protection. If you’re unsure when that might be in your area, stay tuned in to your local weather. NGB member First Editions Shrubs & Trees compiled the average frost dates per state you can use to help you estimate when you’ll be able to remove that mulch.

Beginner Tip for the New Gardener

If you remove your winter protection but you see a cold snap coming your way, just add it back until the warm weather returns.

2. Remember To Water

Once the weather starts warming up, it’s important to start ramping up how much you water your plants. However, it’s still important to always check the soil before watering by sticking your finger in the soil at the base of the plant. If the soil is wet, there is no need to water it that day, but do check back tomorrow. If the soil is dry, it’s ready for some water.

Generally, it’s best to give your plants a deep, thorough soak and end up watering less often than watering them a little bit every day. Remember that natural rainfall counts as watering. So, if you’ve received a bit of rain that week, you might not need to water as much.

Beginner Tip for the New Gardener

Younger or newly planted plants will need more water until they get established. 

3. Determine What Needs Pruning

As each plant variety requires something slightly different, there is no simple answer to spring pruning. Generally, summer flowering shrubs set their flower buds starting in spring, so early spring pruning is ok to do.

Panicle hydrangeas are one such plant that benefits from some early spring pruning. However, make sure to review how to prune panicle hydrangeas before diving in with your pruners. Read more about Pruning Hydrangea and how to tell a panicle hydrangea. Early spring is also a great time to selectively prune any old or dead shoots.

Beginner Tip for the New Gardener

Spring-flowering trees and shrubs like lilacs, magnolia, azalea, spirea, flowering crabapples, pearlbush, and serviceberry all benefit from some pruning right after they finish flowering.

4. Apply Fertilizer

Like pruning, each shrub and tree require something a little different when it comes to fertilizing. However, there are some general tips that can help lead the way. Apply fertilizer in early spring when you start to see new growth.

For trees and shrubs, it is recommended to use a well-balanced, slow-release granular, or spike-form fertilizer. If you’re fertilizing container plantings, you can use a water-soluble type. Make sure to follow the directions on the bag for instructions on how to apply.

Select a site for your new shrub
Prepare the soil when planting your shrubs
For shrubs, make sure where the base of the stems meets the soil is even with the ground level

5. Get To Planting

Spring is an ideal time to get new plants in the ground, but there are a few things you can do to make them extra comfortable in their new home!

1. Select A Site

Reference the plant tag to determine what conditions your new plant loves, and pick a place in your landscape that reflects that.

2. Prepare The Soil

Once you have the site picked out take some time to assess the soil. Most shrubs can grow in different soil types, but they generally prefer well-drained soil. A rich loam soil with at least 5 percent of organic matter is ideal. If you aren’t sure what type of soil you have, pick up a soil test at your local garden center or online retailer. Follow the instructions on the package to determine the texture, pH, and nutrients present in your soil.

3. Plant

For the best garden design results, place your plants in the spaces you’re hoping to plant and take a step back. If you’re happy with how that looks, dig a hole slightly larger than the pot size and place any fertilizer, organic material, or nutrients needed to improve your soil mix in the hole. Then, place the plants. If you see that the roots are tightly packed, loosen them with your fingers before planting to encourage better root growth.

For shrubs, make sure where the base of the stems meets the soil is even with the ground level. For trees, make sure where the trunk flares out to the root system is even with the ground level. Next, refill the hole, packing soil firmly around the crown or root flare to create a dam around the plant. Fill that dam with water, let it drain, and then refill it again.

Happy Spring! Happy Gardening!

Written by NGB Member: First Editions Shrubs & Trees

“This post is provided as an educational/inspirational service of the National Garden Bureau and our members. Please credit and link to National Garden Bureau when using all or parts of this article.”

Previous post 7 Benefits of Raised Bed Gardening Next post Get in the Zone: Two Truths (and a Lie) about Zone Maps

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Follow Blog via Email

Sign-Up to receive notifications of our new posts.

Search

Topics

  • DIY Crafts & Gifts
  • Flower Shows and Festivals
  • Garden Grant Recipients
  • Gardening as Therapy
  • Gardening Books
  • How-to
  • Indoor Gardening
  • Kid's Gardening
  • Planning and Design
    • Backyard Habitat
    • Container Gardening
    • Garden Planning & Design
    • Perennials
    • Plants for Shade
  • Plant Care
    • Pests and Diseases
    • Plant Care & Maintenance
    • Soil, Compost and Mulch
    • Winter Gardening
  • Planting
    • Flower Gardening
    • Foodscaping
    • Herbs
    • Planting Tips
    • Seeds and Seed Starting
    • Vegetables
  • Pollinator Gardening
  • Recipes

Archives

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • February 2017

Contact

National Garden Bureau
5201 Walnut Ave., Suite 3
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Phone: 630-963-0770
Email

Quick Links

New Plants
2022 Year Of Plants
Inspiration
Shop Our Members
National Promotions
Garden Grant
AAS Winners
Video Contest Winners

About NGB

Who We Are
Become a Member
Member Directory
Member Photo Libraries
NGB in the News

Newsletter Sign-Up

Sign-Up for our Newsletter Here

Copyright © 2023 National Garden Bureau. All rights reserved.