March Landscape Maintenance
Jeff's Tips: 2010
The sun is getting higher and the snow has finally melted. Spring has arrived. Oh more snow will fall but the calendar says spring. March is a great time to get out the pruners, loppers and saw. First, make sure they are sharp. One of my favorite quotes is "it's better to trim at the wrong time with a sharp pruners than at the right time with a dull one." Clean cuts heal much faster than jagged cuts.
In March we are going to go after deciduous shrubs to rejuvenate them and control their size. In my yard, plants do not get to decide how big they will get, I do. Small deciduous shrubs such as most Spirea, Potentilla and Barberry can be cut back severely too as low as twelve inches from the ground. Annabelle Hydrangeas can be cut back to the first pair of buds above the ground. Shrubs grown mostly for their foliage should be thinned out to improve airflow and light penetration. After thinning they should be cut back to maintain the desired size. Shrubs that flower in early spring such as Lilacs, Rhododendron, Azaleas and Forsythias will have to wait until after they flower to be trimmed. This is also a good time to remove last years growth on your ornamental grasses. March is your last chance to do dormant pruning of Oaks, Apples, Crabapples, Pears and Hawthorns. These plants are susceptible to disease invasion if pruned at the wrong time.
Stay off your grass as much as possible until it thaws out. Don’t do any raking until the lawn is dry. I’ve been noticing a lot of snow mold this year. You can take your blower to blow it off and fluff up the grass to help dry it out. Sunshine and dry air will help.
I've seen a lot of animal damage to plants this year due to the snow cover. Just a reminder, damage caused by animals is not covered in your warranty. It is still too early to access how this will affect your plants this growing season. Wait till the plants leaf out to determine if the plant needs to be trimmed severely or needs to be replaced.
The rinks have melted and hockey season is almost over. So grab your pruners, it’s time to start trimming. Again feel free to email me with any specific maintenance questions or for any other landscape needs.
Jeff Hauer, Landscape Designer and Owner