Essential spring garden tasks when you're running behind schedule

I still have not finished cutting back all the beds in my garden. Some days I am not in the mood to garden and there have also been many rainy days when I couldn’t do the work. If you are running late getting your garden cleaned up, just continue removing garden debris from beds and cutting back perennials. Perennials are growing, so be very careful when cutting them back and removing debris to avoid damaging new growth. I prefer to leave a light layer of leaves in my garden beds, so I only remove leaves when they are deep enough to smother plants. 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 if they have smooth, flowing curves. Use a pliable garden hose or rope to lay out your new bed line. Use marking point to mark the line or use a spade with the rope or hose as a guideline to cut the new edge. Remove all clumps of grass from the bed and break up any clods of soil and spread them around. Avoid the “volcano effect” around trees that 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 region have soil with adequate levels of phosphorus, so choose a fertilizer with little or no phosphorus. The higher the percentage of nitrogen in your fertilizer, 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 what the best fertilizer is for your garden. Mix 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.