

1. Remove Winter Protection
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.

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
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.

Younger or newly planted plants will need more water until they get established.
3. Determine What Needs Pruning
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.

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
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.



5. Get To Planting
1. Select A Site
2. Prepare The Soil
3. Plant
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.”