Spring is nature’s way of saying, “Let’s Party” – Robin Williams
The early spring period (March-April) is a crucial time for Colorado gardens. While our weather can be unpredictable, with late snowstorms common through May, there are several important tasks to tackle:
- Clean with care. When cleaning up winter debris, wait until temperatures are consistently above 50°F. Many native bees and beneficial insects overwinter in hollow plant stems and leaf litter. Leave some debris in quieter corners of your garden to support these pollinators.
- Get a jump start on weeding. Perennials are just starting to wake up, but there is still quite a bit of bare soil. This is a great time to get in there and dig out some weeds, particularly rhizomatous grasses.
- Pay attention to your trees and shrubs. Spring is when we tend to have storms with heavy wet snow. The heavy snow can damage trees and shrubs by bending and breaking limbs. If possible, clear snow off of trees and shrubs soon after a storm. Branches that have bent, but not broken, can be splinted for recovery.
- Soil preparation. Our clay-heavy front range soils benefit from spring amendment, but be careful not to work wet soil. Test by squeezing a handful – if it forms a tight ball, wait for it to dry further. When ready, incorporate compost, focusing on supporting our native plants’ preference for lean soils.
- Plant Selection. Early spring is perfect for planning new native additions. Colorado has a variety of beautiful native plants to choose from. And if you don’t know where to start, contact Oso Gardening for landscape design and installation.
- Water wisdom. While spring can bring heavy, wet snows, have your irrigation system checked early. Many Colorado natives are drought-tolerant once established, but new plantings need consistent moisture through their first season. Consider installing a rain barrel before the spring rains begin (now legal in Colorado).
But most of all, have fun! If you’d like some help creating or maintaining the drought-tolerant, naturalistic garden of your dreams, contact Oso Gardening.
