Get your yard ready for the planting season
After a few warm spring days, we often let spring fever take over when ordering plants from catalogs and buying plants from garden centers. Take the time to select plants that are suited to your garden's growing conditions and fulfill your design criteria to ensure a successful garden.
Putting the right plant in the right location will result in a better looking garden that requires less maintenance.
• If you are running late getting your garden cleaned up, continue removing debris from beds and cutting back perennials.
The perennials have begun growing, so be very careful when cutting them back and removing debris to avoid damaging new shoots. Cut perennials back higher above ground to avoid damaging the new growth.
• Many garden beds have irregular edges. Beds look better and are easier to mow along if they have smooth, flowing curves.
Use a pliable garden hose or rope to lay out your new bed line. Use marking paint to mark the line, or use a spade with the rope or hose as a guideline to cut the new edge. All clumps of grass should be removed from the bed and any clods of soil should be broken up and spread around.
Avoid the “volcano effect” around trees, which is caused by piling soil and mulch up around the trunk. Neaten your perennial beds by top dressing with a light layer of mulch.
• Apply fertilizer to garden beds if needed. Applying too much or unneeded nutrients can cause garden problems later. Most gardens in the Chicago area have soils with adequate levels of phosphorus, so choose a fertilizer with little or no phosphorus.
The higher the percentage of nitrogen in the fertilizer you buy, the less you will need to apply to your garden. Follow instructions on the bag or ask a salesperson for advice.
Have your soil tested if you want to be sure of the best fertilizer for your garden. Mix together soil from a few locations for a good composite sample. If your garden is large, break up your property into sections and send in multiple samples.
• Tim Johnson is director of horticulture at Chicago Botanic Garden, chicagobotanic.org.