Early spring
• WALKER COUNTY MASTER GARDENER
gardening tips
By Michelle Blair
Patience is a virtue they say , and it couldn ’ t be more true in gardening . All good , healthy plants are worth the wait , and planting at the proper time makes a world of difference . So although you may be tempted by some of these 70 + degree weather days and eager to get those flowering annuals , tomato and pepper plants you started from seed this month out into your garden ; it ’ s important to wait until mid-late March before transplanting outdoors .
Something you can do to pass the time is a quick spring clean up and spend time preparing your gardening beds . Clearing out dead plant material now from winter will help to prevent the spread of infectious plant diseases in the garden . It will also allow you the opportunity to see and remove some unwanted weeds that may be hiding under fallen leaves . Be sure to remove the roots fully if you ’ re pulling them by hand .
Next , incorporate a new layer of about a few inches of compost or organic matter into the soil to ensure your soil has the nutrients needed for a successful new growing season . If you ’ re adding additional topsoil to your garden this spring , be sure to purchase from a reliable source . The cheapest bag may look appealing to your wallet now , but could cost you big in the long run as healthy soil is critical to your gardening success .
Now is also an ideal time to prune those evergreen , flowering summer trees and shrubs . Pruning your crepe myrtles before new growth appears is best . Pay careful attention to only prune the dead twiggy growth to expose and preserve the sculptural character of the tree and its trunks . If you ’ ve purchased bare root trees or shrubs already this season , getting them into the ground now through March is ideal . Remember to water them regularly for the first year or two until well established .
Roses are red , azaleas are pink , you can start fertilizing sooner than you think ! You can start fertilizing your roses on a four to six week schedule right now through about September . After your azaleas and camellias are finished blooming , you can add three pounds of azalea / camellia fertilizer per 100 square feet of area . It is also good to replace mulch in needed areas for these beauties .
If you ’ re adding new azaleas to your garden this year , be sure
8 | HUNTSVILLE LIVING | FEBRUARY | MARCH 2022