Spring Into Action: Awakening Your Gilbert Garden After Winter

As the chill of winter fades and spring’s warmth returns, it’s time to turn your attention to your slumbering Gilbert garden. With some timely spring garden care, you can revitalize your yard and enjoy a season of lush growth and colorful blooms. Local experts share their top tips to awaken your garden after its winter rest.

Clear Out Winter’s Debris

Before diving into planting, take time to tidy up your garden beds. Remove any fallen leaves, dead foliage, and broken branches that have accumulated over winter. This debris can harbor pests and disease if left in place.

Gently rake out garden beds, taking care not to disturb tender new growth or shallow roots. Add the collected organic matter to your compost pile, where it will break down into nutrient-rich amendment for your soil. A clean slate allows you to better assess your garden’s needs.

“Clearing out the old debris is like giving your garden a fresh start,” notes one Gilbert landscaper. “It’s satisfying to see those tidy beds ready for spring planting.”

Prune and Shape Perennials

Many perennial plants benefit from a good pruning in early spring, before active growth resumes. Cut back any dead, damaged, or crossing branches to promote healthy air circulation and encourage strong new growth.

Ornamental grasses should be cut back to a few inches tall. Woody shrubs like roses can be shaped to remove old wood and control size. Wait to heavily prune spring-flowering shrubs until after they bloom to avoid losing this year’s flower buds.

According to a local horticulturist, “Pruning can seem daunting, but it’s one of the best things you can do for your plants’ long-term health. Start with small cuts and stand back often to assess the shape.”

Evaluate and Amend Garden Soil

Healthy soil is the foundation of a thriving garden. Gilbert’s clay soils tend to be alkaline and compacted, which can impede drainage and make it harder for roots to grow. Spring is the ideal time to amend beds before planting begins.

Conduct a soil test to check nutrient levels and pH. You can adjust as needed by incorporating organic matter like aged compost, manure, or peat moss. These amendments improve soil structure, drainage, and fertility. Aim to work in a few inches of organic matter to the top 12 inches of soil.

“We always recommend amending Gilbert soils to give plants their best chance,” advises one area garden center employee. “Well-draining, nutrient-rich soil is key to supporting healthy root growth and plant vigor.”

Divide Crowded Perennials

Perennials like daylilies, hostas, and ornamental grasses can become overcrowded after a few years of growth. Early spring, when new growth is just beginning to emerge, is an opportune time to divide these plants.

Gently dig up the entire clump and separate it into smaller sections, each with a portion of roots and top growth. Replant the divisions promptly, water well, and they’ll soon settle into their new spots. Dividing not only rejuvenates older plants but also gives you new plants to fill in bare spots or share with friends.

A Gilbert landscaping company owner suggests, “If you’re not sure whether a plant needs dividing, check if the center is becoming woody or hollow, or if flowers are smaller than usual. These are good signs it’s time to divide.”

Plant Hardy Spring Annuals

Once your beds are prepped, it’s time for the fun part – adding pops of color with spring annuals. In Gilbert, opt for varieties that can withstand lingering cool nights and tolerate heat as summer approaches.

Great options include petunias, snapdragons, lobelia, alyssum, and osteospermum. Plant them in drifts for maximum impact, and mix in some fragrant sweet peas or stocks for a sensory treat. Deadhead spent blooms regularly to keep plants producing vibrant flowers.

“Annuals are such an easy way to infuse instant color into your spring garden,” shares a local avid gardener. “I love creating pockets of coordinated hues throughout my front beds and patio containers.”

Give Everything a Deep Watering

As your spring garden care wraps up, give everything a deep, thorough watering to welcome plants back to active growth. This includes established perennials, shrubs, trees, and any new additions.

Slow, deep watering helps roots extend further into the soil, improving their ability to withstand Gilbert’s intense summer heat. Aim to moisten the soil to a depth of 6 inches or more. A long soak from a drip system or soaker hose is ideal.

One Gilbert horticulturist advises, “Don’t let the warm spring days trick you into thinking your plants don’t need much water yet. Consistent deep watering is crucial to support all the new growth happening below and above ground.”

With these spring garden care tips, your Gilbert garden will awaken refreshed and ready to burst into lush new growth. Enjoy the sights, scents, and satisfaction of your thriving spring landscape.