Written by: Jan Dash, Colorado Master Gardener
Spring has arrived at last! We’re all ready to get out in the fresh air and start digging, but there are still some chores to take care of first.
If you haven’t already done these tasks by the time you read this newsletter, it’s not too late, but you’d better get busy! Here is a list of spring tasks to get you started:
- Service lawn mower as needed; sharpen or replace blades
- Water on days over 40 degrees if it hasn’t rained or snowed recently
- Apply pre-emergent to control weeds (but remember you can’t plant seeds in treated areas)
- Order or purchase supplies for hardscape plans
- Order summer blooming bulbs (cannas, day lilies, dahlias)
- Apply dormant oil to fruit trees
- Plant potatoes and onions and cool weather seedlings
April Tasks
- Continue to water on days over 40 degrees
- Plant cold tolerant flowers
- Complete hardscape projects while the weather is still cool
- Build or purchase a compost bin
- Remove tree-wrap by Easter
- Remove dead vegetation from beds but try not to disturb beneficial insect eggs like those of praying mantises. Shoot for mid-April or later for this task.
- Fertilize shrubs and perennials if not done last fall
- Core aerate lawn, if not done last fall
- Fertilize grass
- Look for local plant sales and put them in your calendar (PuebloSHED, HAS, CoNPS) so you don’t forget
- Turn under cover crops in vegetable beds
- Begin weed control measures – get them while they are small!
May Tasks – After Last Frost (traditionally Mother’s Day)
- Do an irrigation system check and make adjustments and repairs
- Install rain barrels
- Weed vegetable beds
- Plant summer blooming annuals for color
- Harden off and transplant warm weather seedlings
- Direct sow warm season vegetable seeds
- Fertilize seedlings as needed
- Cover tender seedlings if freezing temperatures are forecast
- Prune and shape spring blooming shrubs (after they have finished blooming)