To Do in the Garden

For you intrepid do-it-yourselfers
1.  Clean up areas where bulbs are planted, to showcase them better. Best to do it now, before flowering starts.  On a nice day, cut back any grasses and plants in your bulb beds, then clean up leaves and debris and rake the area.  Cover with 1/2 - 1"  fresh mulch for a finished look.  Small bulbs like crocuses show much better in a tidy mulched bed!  They don't look anywhere near as pretty half covered with leaves.

2.  Clean up wildflower areas.  Cut any remaining plants back to the ground.  Rake the area lightly, then  cover it with fine screened Cottonboll compost. Sprinkle new wildflower seed of the plants that you want more of.

3.  Cut back Miscanthus grasses before they start getting messy and starts spreading grass everywhere.  For large grasses, it's easiest to tie a rope around the bunch to contain the grass, then cut away with good shears.  For really large bunches, we've used a chainsaw with good success. And it's more fun for people (I won't actually come out and say men, but you know who you are!) who prefer their gardens come with engines and motors.  For a great tutorial with pictures follow this link:  http://www.northcoastgardening.com/2010/01/pruning-miscanthus-grass/

4.  If you're a grow-it-yourselfer, it's time to start early spring hardy annuals, early veggies such as lettuce, any perennials, and peppers and tomatoes indoors in a warm, sunny location.
5.  Trim all spiraea back 3-6" in a rounded shape, before the new growth starts. If they're getting too large and bushy, remove about 1/4 of the branches at the ground.