Why We Should Worry About Spring Cleanup in the Garden
As winter loosens its icy grip and the days gradually lengthen, gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the arrival of spring. With the promise of blooming flowers and pleasant temperatures, spring is the perfect time to revitalize our gardens and landscapes. One crucial aspect of this seasonal transition is the often underestimated but incredibly important spring cleanup. Here’s why it's such an important task and what makes it different from fall cleanup.
Revives Your Garden's Aesthetic Appeal
In Spokane, WA, where I live, we have a diverse climate that's characterized by cold winters and warm summers. This can leave gardens looking tired and weather-beaten after the winter months, leaving behind a matted-down mess. Spring cleanup provides the perfect opportunity to rejuvenate your outdoor space and remove debris, fallen leaves, and dead plants that may have accumulated during the colder seasons. Clearing away this detritus enhances the visual appeal of your garden and creates a clean canvas for new growth to emerge.
Prevents Pests and Disease
Neglecting spring cleanup can inadvertently create a breeding ground for pests and diseases. Fallen leaves and decaying plant material provide shelter and nourishment for these pests and pathogens that can threaten the health of your garden. One pest in particular for us here in the Pacific Northwest are slugs. They will chomp away at the foliage and destroy your plants. So remember, by cleaning up debris, you can significantly reduce the risk of pest infestations and disease outbreaks, safeguarding the well-being of your plants.
Prepares the Soil for New Growth
A thorough spring cleanup involves more than just removing visible debris; it extends to the soil beneath. Raking away accumulated leaves and dead vegetation allows the soil to breathe and absorb sunlight, promoting a healthier environment for root development. Additionally, this process helps prevent the onset of mold and mildew, which can thrive in damp, decaying organic matter.
Encourages the Arrival of Beneficial Insects
Spring cleanup not only eliminates harmful pests but also creates space for beneficial insects to thrive. Ladybugs, bees, and other pollinators play a crucial role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem. It is important to note that you’ll want to wait until the risk of hard freezing is over and temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees to do your cleanup so you don’t disturb the good critters and allow them to take residence and contribute to the overall health and vitality of your garden.
Sets the Stage for Successful Planting
After the cleanup is complete, your garden is ready to receive new plants and flowers. Whether you're planting perennials, annuals, or vegetables, a well-prepared garden bed ensures that your new additions have the best possible start. Nutrient-rich soil and a clutter-free environment foster optimal growth, allowing your plants to have greater success at establishing and flourishing throughout the growing season.
How Spring Cleanup Differs from Fall Cleanup
While spring cleanup is all about giving your garden a refresh, fall cleanup is all about putting it to bed. In the fall, it's most beneficial to mulch or remove heavy leaf debris for the same pest and disease reasons as previously mentioned. Additionally, mulching leaves into your lawn provides an easier and quicker path for them to break down and decompose, providing a natural fertilizer. You can mulch and spread those same leaves into garden beds, but there are certain situations in which you would not want to do that.
If your beds have landscape fabric with rock mulch on top, you’ll want to keep those as clean and clear as possible. By allowing things to decompose over the top of rock mulch, you’ll create a soil layer over time, and weeds will grow, completely defeating the purpose of that landscape fabric. So clear these types of beds in the fall, and again in the spring from anything that accumulates over winter to prevent this.
Cutting back perennials is another task that should be done, however, in terms of aesthetic appeal, whether you do so in the fall or winter is often a matter of preference. Some plants might benefit from allowing their foliage to drop over themselves to protect the crown of the plant from frost through the winter, while others turn slimy and can be a breeding ground for slugs and disease. Additionally, other plants, such as certain breeds of hydrangeas, you do not want to cut back at any time, leaving only light pruning of true deadwood until you know no blooms are going to come from it. When in doubt, leave perennial cutbacks until spring or consult your gardener.
So, is there anything you can do while you wait for the warmer spring weather to arrive? Why yes, there are!
Here’s a list of things you can start tackling just before spring to set yourself up for success:
Pruning
Late February and early March are ideal times to prune dormant trees and shrubs before new growth and flowering begin.
Remove dead or damaged branches to encourage healthier growth and improve the overall structure of your plants.
Soil Testing
Test the soil in your garden to assess its nutrient levels. This information will help you determine the appropriate fertilizers to use when preparing your garden beds for planting.
Weed Control
If you see a weed, pull it. Particularly in March. Tackling early weeds before they have a chance to take hold is essential to maintaining control.
Division and Transplanting
Late winter and early spring are opportune times for dividing and transplanting perennials. This allows them to establish new root systems before the growing season.
Clean and Sharpen Tools
Take inventory of your gardening tools. Clean and sharpen pruners, shears, and other equipment to ensure they are in top condition for the upcoming season.
Plan and Purchase
Use this time to plan your garden layout and research plants suitable for Spokane's climate. Purchase seeds, bulbs, and any necessary supplies for your upcoming planting endeavors.
Compost Maintenance
If you have a compost pile, turn it to promote decomposition and create nutrient-rich compost for your garden.
By incorporating these tasks into your late February and early March routine, you set the stage for an easy and successful spring cleanup. Taking proactive steps during this transitional period will not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of your garden but also contribute to the long-term health and productivity of your outdoor space. As always, if you are feeling overwhelmed or unsure of anything, give us a call, and we will be happy to help tackle cleanup for you. Happy gardening!