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Spring Projects
Garden Tips Newsletter - March 5, 2001

Now is the time to finish pruning any fruit & deciduous trees (crepe myrtles), roses, vines, and shrubs. Evergreen shrubs also need to be pruned this time of year. Evergreen shrubs generally do not develop new shoots on older wood, so it isn't advisable to cut back beyond the living foliage portion of the branches.

For more information on pruning see the MSU publication "Pruning Landscape Plants," Publication 204.

Other spring projects that should be done this time of year:

  • divide summer and fall blooming perennials such as Cannas, Chrysanthemums, Coreopsis, Phlox, and Obedient Plant, Mondo and Lirope grasses
  • keep an eye on plants as frosts are still likely to occur -- provide protection if necessary
  • cut back ornamental grasses -- remove dead growth
  • feed your winter annuals to get a little more growth and bloom out of them before the cool season ends.

These archived newsletters were written by Dr. Lelia Scott Kelly. Kelly is a Horticulture Specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. Her office is in the North Mississippi Research & Extension Center, Verona.

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