Planning

• Choose planting areas based on exposure to sun, shade, wind, and distance from water source
• Study garden for gaps that can be filled by spring-flowering bulbs, and order in August for best selection
• Choose flowering trees and shrubs for color and time of bloom to add to the garden in fall

Chores and Maintenance

• Continue to remove winter mulches and debris
• Continue to dig beds in preparation for planting
• Complete adding compost to planting bed soil
• Place peony supports
• Cultivate planting beds and carefully remove weeds
• Remove mounded earth from roses
• Prepare bare-root and potted roses for planting; soak overnight in fish emulsion
• Continue to apply horticultural oil sprays to control insect pests on trees if temperature is over 40°
• Test lawn soil and apply lime if warranted

Planting

• Continue to plant deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs, weather and soil conditions permitting
• Sow seeds of hardy annuals in place in the garden
• Sow seeds of peas, carrots, and radishes
• Start seed indoors for summer crops
• Plant out seedlings of cauliflower, cabbage, and broccoli if soil is workable
• Plant out seedlings of cool-season annuals like pansies and snapdragons
• Continue to plant and transplant perennials
• Complete rose planting
• Plant strawberries
• Re-seed bare lawn areas

Pruning/Fertilizing

• Complete removal of diseased, weak, or crossing branches
• Complete rose pruning but wait until after flowering on climbers and ramblers
• Prune late-flowering shrubs such as buddleia and hydrangea
• Prune early spring-flowering shrubs immediately after flowers die
• Wait to prune evergreens, hedges, and other shrubs until early summer
• Fertilize fruit trees and roses
• Fertilize perennials when you see 2-3" of new growth
• Fertilize bulbs as they finish blooming
• Complete lawn fertilization if not done in the fall

Indoors

• Continue to transplant houseplants that need repotting
• Continue to inspect for pests and control as needed
• Complete shaping leggy houseplants