Hello Fellow Gardeners,

I’ve been super busy working on checking off my own Spring chores checklist! Unfortunately there’s still a lot more to be done, but I’m happy to be gardening again and spending some time in the sunshine!

If you are checking off your own Spring garden chore list, you may have seen the “pruning roses” chore! Doing a bit of research on the internet, I came across the ultimate rose pruning guide! It contains everything you ever wanted to know about pruning roses! It’s easy to follow, jam packed with great tips, and perfect for old pros in need of a refresher course, or beginners looking for a detailed guide! Best of all, it’s offered in pdf format online for free!

Check out:
John Jons’ Rose Pruning Guide for the Texas Cooperative Extension

This rose pruning guide was designed for the Texas climate, but can be applied to our own cold climate gardens with only three exceptions! Read below…

1. Pruning dates for cold climate gardening is the first or second week of May, or when the Lilacs and Forsythia bloom (basically after the last frost date).

2. In a cold climate garden you rarely need to use fungus spray because the winter kills most of the bacteria!

3. Finally, the bud union for cold climate gardens is usually planted 4 to 6 inches below ground level to offer winter protection (the bud union is the swelling where the rose is grafted on) so you don’t usually have to worry about too many suckers to trim.

I really recommend this guide for its valuable information and detailed tips! As mentioned, the guide is very easy to understand and should take the mystery out of rose pruning for anyone!

Stay tuned for more tips, tricks, ideas, and inspiration on cold climate gardening from the Daily Weeder!

Happy Gardening,

Marie Suzanne

Hello Fellow Gardeners,

I don’t know about you, but I never feel it’s really Spring until I start seeing a few flowers! Well, great news! Spring has sprung finally! My irises and daffodils have started sprouting, my tulips are well on their way, and as you can see down below, the crocus around my hometown are in full bloom!

Happy Spring!

Marie Suzanne

Hello Fellow Gardeners,

Ah Spring! Warmer temperatures, sunshine, and no bugs (yet)! Well, as wonderful as Spring is, it brings with it a few gardening chores to be done! If you just can’t wait to get started, check out Spring Chores Checklist Part 1 for a list of items to do now, but read on for those basic things that need to be done once the last bit of snow finally melts…

□ Clean Up Those Beds!

After the last chance for frost has passed, remove all the old mulch from your garden beds, and replace with a brand new batch! Don’t just throw your old mulch out! Recycle it, by placing it into your compost pile!

□ Plant Away!

Spring is the time to plant blueberries, raspberries, grapes, rhubarb, asparagus, irises, peonies, hydrangeas, lilacs, and more!

□ Prepare Those Beds!

Add a bit of compost or organic fertilizer to your beds to help give your plants a great nutrient boost!

□ Pull Weeds!

Spring is the perfect time to pull any weeds that pop up because the ground is so wet that you can usually get the weed, root and all very easily!

□ Prune Prune Prune!

Roses, apple and plum trees need to be pruned in the Spring, but DON’T prune those lilacs, hydrangeas, Spring flowering clematis or old garden roses! For these the rule is simple! Prune after bloom!

□ Divide and Transplant!

Divide and transplant any perennials that need it, such as daylilies and hostas. You can also transplant roses if they need a new spot this year!

Stay tuned for more tips, tricks, ideas, and inspiration on cold climate gardening from the Daily Weeder!

Happy Gardening,

Marie Suzanne