Thereโs a different to-do list for every month of the gardening season. In honour of Earth Day, which happens to be in April, consider these easy, nature-friendly dos and donโts:
Procrastinate!
As tempting as it is to get outside with a rake when the weather warms, this isnโt the best time. Bees and other pollinators may still be hibernating under leaves and other yard debris, so please donโt remove it until temperatures are consistently above 10ยฐC.
Thereโs no sense in gardening if the soil is still wet and mucky. Wait until the soil crumbles and doesnโt stick to your shoes, to avoid destroying its structure. Itโs better (and far more pleasant) to divide and transplant perennials when soil is workable.
If walking on your lawn leaves footprints, leave your lawn alone for awhile to reduce soil compaction. Wait for warm weather before overseeding.
โClean upโ responsibly
Go ahead and cut back dead stems of ornamental grasses and perennials, but let nature do the cleanup. Halton Master Gardeners recommend the โchop and dropโ method to return organic material to the soil & provide nesting material for birds.
Remove invasive species as they start to appear. These include English Ivy, Periwinkle, Lily-of-the-Valley, and Garlic Mustard. Many invasives are pretty (and popular) but can kill whole forests.
Butterflies, bees and other valued members of our community need time to emerge and safe places to hide. For a stunning garden that buzzes with life and colour, work smarter, not harder. Your back โ and the planet โ will thank you.