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| THE CASUAL GARDENER, Shawna Coronado Spring is Coming! Spring is Coming! = = = = = = = = = = = = WOW! (picture me hopping up and down) It’s actually almost, not quite, getting close, feeling a little warmer, snow is almost gone, oh my GOSH I think it’s coming – SPRING!!! I have the patience of a 3 year old when it comes to waiting for Spring. It’s just that it takes SO LONG to get here!! Perhaps you can tell a true gardener based on this impatience?!?! I was downtown Chicago not long ago and saw bulbs popping out of the ground in the median display and thought I was going to pass out with excitement. I literally screamed, “DAFFODILS!!!” The rest of the car riding with me thought I was crazy. I’ve been inundated with questions from my fans related to cleaning out their beds. Apparently last years perennial growth is looking a bit unkempt and messy for all of you. The answer for all is YES! You can clean your beds out starting now, although I would prefer you wait until April – there’s less chance of very heavy freezing and the more cover on your beds, the better. I also caution you against overzealous digging up until May. There’s been many a year I’ve dug up and destroyed perennials that take slower to pop out of the ground. At this time of year I focus more heavily on clean up. The first week of April is usually city brush pick up week. In preparation of that I trim any dead branches off bushes and trees. It’s a great time to shape your bushes as you have a clear sight line of the shape and form without leaves distracting your vision. It is a good time to work in my newest garden out near the road – I want to rearrange the rocks and build a few small planters. New tree buds will start to form soon and I receive a heap of oak leaves on the shady beds West of my home. I dig these leaves into the ground near the plants which might require a higher acid content like Hydrangeas and Azaleas. Finally I clear up any winter damage and get my tools ready. So welcome Spring with open arms - - it’s time to get out there and get messy!! Clean up your gardens and get ready to start building more. Let’s get healthy and have some fun! Please send your gardening questions for Shawna Coronado, The Casual Gardener to dearshawna@thecasualgardener.com or The Casual Gardener, P.O. Box 358, Warrenville, IL 60555 |
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