• It’s time to get your lawn into shape. Fertilize it now and allow spring rains carry the fertilizer into the soil to feed your roots. If you lawn looking really bad, it might be time to reseed your lawn. Read our article “Green with Envy” for more indepth information.

• Once your spring-blooming shrubs and trees, like rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and magnolias, have finished blooming trim and prune them back into shape.

• There are many young perennials emerging. Bait for slugs and snails before they begin dining on your tender greens.

• Now is the time to feed all your trees and shrubs with a slow release fertilizer, like Al’s 10-4-8 Slow Release Fertilizer. This will help them put on new lush growth.

• If you haven’t already, prepare your vegetable beds by adding compost and other organic materials, NW Best Soil Builder and Top Dressing. Once your vegetable beds are ready you can begin by planting broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chard, chives, leeks, lettuce, peas, radishes, rhubarb, pinach, turnips.

• If you want to get a jump start on the season by planting your tomato starts outside now you need to protect them frost by using walls-of-water and other protective screens. For the best performance, plant your tomato starts with transplant fertilizer and lime. This will help it grow and prevent blossom rot. 

• You can start planting your hanging baskets. Check out our article “Suspend Color” to learn how to create and care for your own hanging masterpiece.

• Control rose diseases such as black spot and powdery mildew. Remove infected leaves and spray with a fungicide.

Here's other great tips from the OSU Master Gardeners on what to do in the garden for:

• January
• February
• March
• April

For more great ideas of what to do in the garden each month attend one of our Free Seminars!