Gardening Tips After a Mild Winter

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Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Jaclyn Cashman, GoLocalWorcester News Editor

Landscaping by Rutland Nurseries

Today is the first day of spring and many Worcester County residents are ready to start sprucing up their gardens given the nice weather.

Sean Green of Rutland Nurseries said this unusually mild winter has his clients stumped and asking a lot of questions. A lot people have been asking Green about the trees budding out and what impact it will have if Central Massachusetts has another cold snap. Green said most plants should survive, but only time will tell. There’s nothing you can really do, but wait.

Pruning Time

Green said, “Prune off the winter kill before the buds come out. You want to do this before they are in full regalia, so it is not trying push its nutrients to the dead wood.” Green said this will help the tree or shrub grow better.

Green said if the bulb sends up shoots usually it will survive colder weather.

What to plant now

If you are getting the itch to go out and plant this weekend, Green said you can plant different deciduous shrubs now.

Green recommends that you keep your winter mulch protection on until the beginning of April.

Green says there seems to be signs of dieback or the lawn turning very brown at this point. He said it is not clear as to what will happen with the lawns. He said your best bet is to get fertilizer down early in the first week of April. Providing a layer of cover for your trees and shrubs will help protect against damage caused throughout the plant as a result of repeatedly freezing during the night and then thawing once the sun is back.

It is also important to get out and rake as long at it is dry. This will help with any snow mold. Green also said to get the debris and branches off the grass so the crowns don't get damaged. Green said, "Enjoy the early summer, it may snow in April. This is New England!"

Rutland Nurseries has been in business since 1958 and employees 75 people. Rutland Nurseries located in Rutland, provides professional landscape design services to thousands of commercial and residential customers throughout the area.