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- Test seed for viability. Place 10 seeds on wet paper towel and cover with a second layer of paper towels. Place in a plastic bag and set in warm spot. After 7 days, toss any seed with less than 50% germination.
- Apply fertilizer around flowering bulbs as soon as their shoots begin to poke through the ground.
- Apply fertilizer around the base of your fruit trees. Even if there is still snow on the ground.
- Prune roses, (see my rose care articles). Plant peas, spinach, onions, lettuce and root vegetables as soon as soil is workable, depending of course, if your Hardiness Zone is temperate enough for early plantings.
- Prune dead or storm damages limbs from trees and shrubs.
- Prune summer and fall blooming trees that flower on new growth. Prune fruit trees blueberries, brambles and grapevines.
- Edge and remove grass from around your trees in the lawn – grass is a major competition for water and nutrients.
- Remove sucker growth from around deciduous trees.
- Any necessary tidying up work can be done as the weather warms up, such as top-dressing extra soil in worn areas and restoring unsteady or unlevel stepping stones.
- Provided severe frosts are not expected, Buddleia bushes can be pruned since this will promote strong flower bearing shoots in July and August.
- Rose bushes which were affected by black spot last year can be removed and destroyed.
- Ornamental vines can be trained and pruned.
- The ground needs to be forked over, removing weeds, and fertilized before annuals are sown.
- Spread compost around shrubs, trees, hedges, and perennials.