With the early flowers bounding forth, and the trees blossoming and swelling with buds, it is clear that Spring is in full swing!  Bird songs that we haven’t heard since last fall are once again part of the outdoor fabric.

​

Spring is a very busy time in the garden. If early crops are not yet in the ground, it’s not too late here in the Pacific Northwest. Things like lettuce, peas, radishes, and kale thrive in the warmer daily temperatures compared to the cooler nights. Warmer weather crops can still be started indoors in seed trays to be planted out in May.

​

Vegetables aside, this is a busy time for all plants. It is too late to use any kind of dormant spray on the fruit trees. Even neem oil, which provides organic protection against diseases and pests, should not be used now that the pollinators have begun to emerge.

​

Protecting pollinators will benefit the plants we have so painstakingly nurtured. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website (wdfw.wa.gov) has a lot of information about creating pollinator habitats. Whether you have a small space or something bigger, attracting pollinators to your garden is key to a healthy landscape. It is also worth noting that this is the month we will start to see dandelions pop up in our lawns, which can be annoying on the one hand, but it is important to remember that dandelion blooms are great food for our early pollinators, so the mason bees will appreciate a mowing pause.

​

Now is a great time to do any projects that need digging. The ground is soft from the rain and no longer frozen from the winter temperatures. By summer, the ground will harden again as the temperatures rise and the ground dries out, so this is a good window if you have a project in mind.

​

Lastly, planting summer bulbs now will guarantee a splash of color later on!

​

These are only a few notes for this month. You know your landscape better than anyone, so have some fun making your list of tasks and enjoy the cool breezes while they last.

​

Happy gardening!