March Madness: The Gardening Edition
Every March, people get caught out by the weather. A little bit of sunshine and the sight of spring bulbs in flower unleashes a flurry of activity. As plants begin to break dormancy, this seems to set off alarm bells. Plants get pruned, lawns get mowed, annual beds get dug, etc.
Resist the urge.
Unless you live in the south, plants are not actively growing yet. Remember, depending on the year, the ground may still be frozen. Serious damage can be done to a lawn if it's mowed too early. Grass - and indeed, most plants - doesn’t recover very quickly when the ground temp is at or below freezing. Grass loses moisture through its cut blades and will be unable to replace it, causing die back. This in turn gives the lawn a bleached, white appearance.
“Grass - and indeed, most plants - doesn’t recover very quickly when the ground temp is at or below freezing.”
So be patient.
Delaying pruning on certain species in mid spring will reduce hassle later, particularly with trees and shrubs. You can drastically reduce the amount of water sprouts - unwanted new growth shoots on the trunk or main branches of a tree. A tree that is particularly susceptible is the Crabapple [Malus]. In the spring, energy is sent to all the ends of the branches, and then decreasing amounts of energy is sent to the dormant buds in the rest of the tree. This burst of energy causes water sprouts, which rapidly grow, causing an overgrown appearance. However, if pruning is delayed until mid summer, the plant will find no need to expend its energy on canopy growth but instead divert the energy to the production of starches that the plant will need during the winter.
That being said… there are a few plants that will not suffer if they are pruned now. Ornamental grasses can be cut down now, as they should never be cut down in the fall. (Why? Moisture will enter the crown of the plants via the hollow stems and cause the plant tissue to rot, resulting in severe decline, or death of the plant.) In addition, plants that flower mid to late summer can be cut back now, e.g. Butterfly bush [Buddleia] or Rose of Sharon [Hibiscus]. Plants that flower late in the season are flowering on this year's growth.
Here's my rule of thumb: I like to see actively growing plants before I cut them back. Plants that flower in early to late spring are flowering on two year old growth. When it comes to shrubs, It is important to know the flowering times, as it generally governs the time of pruning: too early and you remove the flowering wood, too late and the plants don’t have time to recover.
The Takeaway:
Your lawn, garden, orchard, (and whatever else you claim) won't suffer one bit if you leave it alone for another month. I know, it's difficult - you've been cooped up indoors all winter and it really seems like spring has sprung. You just need to do something. I understand. So here's your pre-spring project: Somehow there always seem to be branches that have blown in, leaves that escaped the rake in the fall, and landscaped beds that are in dire need of re-edging. These tasks can be done now. Depending on your yard there may be little that needs attention. Take this as your opportunity to sit back and picture the flower show that’s about to unfold.
Comments