Not Yet

Everyone was in an ebullient mood last week with spring-like weather and warm temperatures. Signs of the new season abounded, both in the landscape and at the market. There was even {gasp} exposed skin as people pulled out shorts, sandals, and tank tops for the first time this year, ready to bulk up on natural vitamin D.

“I can’t wait to get home and clean out my gardens,” one of my customers casually remarked.

My shock was evident as I wailed, “No! No! No! It’s way too soon!” maybe a little too loudly, but this is my pet peeve each spring. I know we’re all itching to hurry along our budding perennials and manicure our greening grasses, but for now if you want some spring colors, stick to cut flowers or porch pots that can be brought inside. The cold temperatures aren’t over.

All that leaf litter and last year’s growth isn’t detritus just yet. It’s there to protect tender new growth from the late spring frosts and even freezes that are still to come. If you want your plants to reach their potential glory instead of being stunted, don’t go trimming back the dead stuff and raking a neat Zen garden look-alike yet.

That sad brown organic matter isn’t only serving as a plant quilt; it’s home to an entire ecosystem of microorganisms and bugs only now beginning to wake up. Pollinators  such as ladybugs, native bees, lacewings, moths, and butterflies hibernate among dead leaves and in the hollow dried stems in a state known as diapause. The one that kills me the most are people complaining there aren’t any lightning bugs like years ago while at the same time Weed & Feeding their lawns to death so their yards won’t be dotted with unsightly things such as dandelions and clover. Just. Stop.

So when can you finally go play in the dirt? Not until the daytime temperatures have consistently been in the 50’s for two weeks. That’s usually late April/early May for us. We’re not there yet. When the time comes, don’t immediately order a load of mulch or compost. This will help even more beneficial insects to complete their lifecycles without getting buried and smothered, all in the name of neatness.

At this point some of you are jumping up and down in place like a four-year-old having a meltdown over wanting a popsicle. If you really, really want to work outside in your yards and gardens, go for the bushes and trees. Now is the time to prune—while they are dormant. This helps to encourage spring growth. The exception is for spring-blooming plants, then you’re going to have to wait. Once my father hired one of his buddies to trim the hedge around my parents’ property and unfortunately, he cut back all my mother’s beloved Bridal Wreath Spirea before it bloomed in May.  If you are going to get your gardener’s fix this way, be sure you know your plant identification and lifecycle. Also, keep an eye out for any chrysalises and cocoons dangling from branches. Let them be until the residents have awakened.