London Inc. April 2022 - 46

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3. DO A THOROUGH
SPRING CLEANUP
Ideally just before your spring
bulbs start to pop up, clean
the plant debris out of your
garden beds. This includes
fallen branches, matted down
leaves, last year's perennial
foliage, ornamental grasses and
any annuals you didn't remove last
fall. Maintaining good hygiene in your
garden beds will help to keep pests and
diseases at bay.
4. TEST YOUR GARDEN SOIL
Experts recommend testing your garden soil every three
to five years to see what nutrients or organic materials it
needs and which it has too much of. You might learn, for
example, that your soil is very high in phosphorous, so
you would avoid adding fertilizers that contain a lot of it.
Or you might find out your soil is naturally alkaline and
need to add aluminum sulfate around your evergreens
and acid-loving shrubs like hydrangeas.
5. FEED YOUR SOIL.
Once you know what your garden
soil needs based on your
test results, talk with someone
at your local garden center
about which specific products
to use, always following package
instructions for best results.
A good general practice is to
top-dress the soil with an inch
or two of compost, humus and/
or manure in early spring just
before or as your bulbs are starting to emerge. That's
also a good time to sprinkle an organic slow-release plant
food around your perennials and shrubs. Earthworms and
other garden creatures will do the job of working these
organic materials down into the soil for you.
6. GET OUT A SHARP PAIR OF PRUNERS
Now is the time to trip woody shrubs and trees if you
didn't prune in the fall. Prune before buds begin to break
into bloom or you'll stress the tree and get a tiny crop
(or possibly none). It's also a good time to prune summer-blooming
trees and shrubs, just before they push out
new growth.
46|londonincmagazine.ca|APRIL 2022
7. DIVIDE PERENNIALS AND
TRANSPLANT SHRUBS
In early spring when they
are just beginning to pop
up, divide and transplant any
perennials that have outgrown
their space or grown large
enough to split, if desired. In
most cases, it's best to divide and
move perennials in the opposite
season of when they bloom. That
means moving summer and fall blooming
perennials in spring, and spring blooming
perennials in fall. This avoids disrupting their bloom cycle.
Evergreen shrubs can be moved in early spring before
their new growth appears or in early fall to give them
enough time to re-establish their roots before winter.
Deciduous shrubs can be moved almost anytime they
are not in bloom and the weather is mild, but generally
spring and fall are the preferred seasons for transplanting.
If you move them while they are dormant, there will
be less stress on the plants and they will be more likely to
spring back into action quickly.
8. PUT OUT ANY NECESSARY SUPPORTS LIKE
TRELLISES AND STAKES
If you've brought a trellis into the garage or shed for
winter, early spring is a good time to bring it back out
into the garden. Make sure it's sturdy and apply a fresh
coat of paint if needed before using it again.
9. PLANT YOUR SPRING CONTAINERS
AND BORDERS
Though most annual flowers need the soil to warm up a
bit before planting, some cool weather loving perennials
won't mind if you plant them in the garden early. For
most annuals, it's a good idea to wait until the chance of
frost has abated.
10. BE READY TO TAKE COVER IF FREEZING
TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE FORECAST
Be prepared to cover up plants that have tender emerging
buds or foliage if freezing temps are in the forecast. If
the buds haven't begun to open yet, there's no need to
cover them. Old sheets and towels that have been relegated
to the rag pile are a good option, and professional
row cover is available for purchase, too. Do not cover
tender plants with plastic sheeting or tarps. The effect of
the plastic touching the newly emerging buds and foliage
will magnify the cold's effect, rather than mitigate it.

London Inc. April 2022

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