Seasonal Plant Care
Seasonal Plant Care in Maryland
A Maryland Landscaper
EARLY SPRING
Using a straight edging shovel, edge bed. Rake any winter debris. Broadcast granular balanced fertilizer, 10-10-10, on perennials, trees and flowering shrubs. Apply Hollytone to broadleaf and needled evergreens.
Cut ornamental grasses and Liriope to ground. Prune flowering shrubs to control size. Prune trees as needed to remove crossing/rubbing limbs, and dead or diseased limbs. Remove debris.
EARLY SUMMER
Remove any dead blooms from early blooming perennials. Apply balanced fertilizer, 10-10-10, to perennials, trees and flowering shrubs. Weed.
MID SUMMER
Continue to deadhead (remove) blooms from perennials and weed. Water weekly during extreme drought. Prune evergreen shrubs to control size and to remove dead or diseased parts.
LATE SUMMER
Cut back any perennials whose foliage looks bad. Continue to deadhead, weed and water.
FALL
After heavy frost, cut perennials and remove debris from garden. Edge garden for a clean winter look. Lightly fertilize with 10-10-10 and Hollytone. Remember not to cut grasses, Sedum and Liriope at this time; they provide winter interest.