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CHORE CHECKLIST

If you've been waiting for the A-OK to get in the garden, wait no more. There are plenty of chores you can tackle now that the soil's had a chance to firm up and dry out a bit. Of course, there are few things you should wait to do. Here's our annual what-to-do now, what-to-wait-to-do list:

Last update: April 28, 2009 - 1:04 PM

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LAWN CARE

ONCE THE SOIL IS FIRM

• Rake the lawn.

• Seed bare or thin spots. Seeding encourages thicker growth and discourages weeds.

• Aerate (if you haven't done so in a couple years). It'll help the grass absorb water and nutrients.

ONCE THE GRASS IS ACTIVELY GROWING

• Fertilize after you've mowed once or twice. If you fertilized in the fall, skip it this spring.

• Consider a greener fertilizer. Use one with natural ingredients such as corn gluten meal, soybean meal, blood meal or feather meal or spread a thin layer of completed compost or composted cow manure on your grass.

• Let the grass grow longer. Mow to 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches to encourage deeper roots. That will help grass plants survive hot, dry weather.

• Leave grass clippings on the lawn. They add nutrients to the soil.

IN THE GARDEN

ONCE THE SOIL IS FIRM

• Clean out the garden. Cut perennials to the ground and use a lightweight rake to remove winter mulch, debris and dead plant material.

• Improve the soil. Add organic material (compost, peat moss, aged manure) to garden and vegetable beds.

• Spread a thin layer of organic material on the dirt around your emerging perennial plants.

• Prune summer-flowering shrubs that bloom on new wood (i.e. some hydrangeas, spireas and shrub roses).

• Design a rain garden, which captures the water that runs off from your house.

• Buy or build a rain barrel to capture runoff from your gutters.

• Make a list of the plants you want to buy. It might cut down impulse buys at the garden center.

WAIT TO

• Prune spring-blooming shrubs such as lilacs, azaleas and forsythia until they're done blooming. If you prune now, you'll remove this year's flowers.

• Water and fertilize ornamental trees and shrubs in early May.

• Plant small trees and shrubs. Anytime in May is good.

• Divide and transplant perennials such as hostas and daylilies. Soil should be warm and dry, which usually happens in early to mid-May.

• Fill your containers with your favorite annuals. Early to mid-May.

• Plant tender annuals, perennials and warm-season vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers) in mid- to late May.

• Wait until mid-June to spread summer mulch. Gardens need to be exposed to the sun to help prevent mildew and fungus.

CONNIE NELSON

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