Spring Gardening Tips by Linda Engelson

At last winter is loosening its grip on South Dakota after what seems to have been a very long, cold season. Many of us are tired of being cooped up in the house and are anxious to begin our spring clean-up chores. As a gardener and as a professional in the field, I get many of the same garden questions each spring, so I am going to go over a general list of garden must-dos to get your landscapes and gardens ready for the warm seasons.

Shrubs and trees

• Shrubs and trees can be pruned, shaped and thinned of older growth to allow new young growth to appear.
• Remove debris from around plants
• Use a fertilizer with a good dose of iron between spring ground thaw and the first week of June and should be watered in well to get healthy growth and good color. Jirdon Tree, Shrub Fertilizer and Super Iron work well.
• In areas where rock or wood mulch and fabric has been used, fertilize as usual over the surface and around the drip line of the plant and water in well.
• Most trees in lawn areas will receive enough nutrients from your lawn fertilizer application and will require no additional fertilization.
• When shopping for a good lawn fertilizer buy a product high in iron and formulated for the soils in our area such as Jirdon, available at Jolly Lane Greenhouse. Applicators can be checked out at the time of purchase so the homeowner can apply fertilizers when the time is right for them.

Perennial gardening and flowerbeds

• Remove all the old leaves and dead plant material
• Sprinkle a balanced flower garden fertilizer, in granular form, over the soil or mulch around the plants.
• Take care in not placing granules on the crown of the new growth, as it will harm the plant. Use a garden cultivator or hoe to lightly scratch the granules into the surface regardless of mulch.
• Loosening the mulch in perennial areas helps to aerate the soil.
• The use of wood chips or cedar mulch to help retain moisture. Try to keep a good two to three inch layer over all.

New gardening trends

• Trellises, arbors, gazebos, obelisks and topiaries are in high demand because of the added dimension both attached to the house and free standing. Jolly Lane has some new and exciting vines to try that are both annual and perennial and we can provide you with information on pointless, lifetime garden structures that can enhance any home.
• Water gardening has been the big movement in landscaping. The sound of water and the natural setting with water and bog plants takes our suburban homes right into the country.
• New color trends we see in plant combinations are burgundy, red, deep purple and chartreuse green. The yellow-green leaves and textures added to almost any container or hanging basket will make it eye-catching and fresh.
• Containerized gardening trends are still going strong as it invites us to use them in areas where we normally wouldn't be allowed to garden such as patios, apartments, and above the ground decks. Jolly Lane Greenhouse is known for it's outstanding hanging baskets and containers. You can build your own, or buy a couple finished ones to enjoy while your containers come along.

Stop in and visit with the experts at our full service garden center to answer your gardening and landscaping questions and to find the supplies the professionals use in their landscapes. You won't believe the exciting items you'll find to help you have a great gardening season!