Garden

Fertilize Beds and Plant Crops

As soon as the ground has warmed and the grass begins growing again, the soil is ready for testing (page 195), tilling, feeding, and planting.

FERTILIZE: Adding fertilizer to perennial beds now will allow it to break down slowly, providing a more gradual, long-lasting release of nutrients. A 20-5-10 formula (the numbers refer to nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium) is a good all-purpose option, or you can perform a soil test to pinpoint deficiencies and buy the right product for remediation.

PLANT: Direct-sow cool-season vegetables, such as peas, spinach, carrots, and mustard greens, in cold parts of the country. In more temperate locations, plant warm-weather crops including beans, okra, and tomatoes. You can also plant early-season bloomers such as hellebores and irises, plus flowering shrubs like lilacs and hydrangeas.

Garden

Begin Garden Cleanup

• Cut back ornamental grasses left in the garden during winter, before they resprout from the base.
• Rake dead leaves from beds; add them to the compost pile, or shred with your lawn mower (make sure leaves are dry) to use as mulch.
• Once the last frost has passed, remove burlap coverings from shrubs and container plants.
• In southern regions, begin to divide summer- and fall-blooming perennials.