Tasks that can be done

• Cut back ornamental grasses to about six inches tall
• Cut back perennials almost to ground level.
• Remove dead wood and suckers from trees and shrubs, both evergreen and deciduous.
• Plant dormant trees and shrubs.
• Move dormant plants.
• Dig and divide emerging perennials.
• Scrub clay pots.
• Clean tools.
• Pruning.
• Remove leaves from the bottom of ponds or other water features.
• Clean gutters to prevent water from drowning plants below.
• Correcting tunnels made by garden pests.
• Spring cleaning for birdhouses.
• Touching up mulch.
• Sketch where your spring bulbs are, for when the annuals need to replace them.

Early spring is that time of year when the days are warming up enough to get spring fever, but the ground is still too cold for planting. The early spring chores also depend on how many things were left unfinished in the fall! I know that will mean lots of chores in my own yard just waiting for the first warm days of early spring. This is the time to get the spring chores out of way that aren't so much fun. Then there will be more time in spring for the plants and flowers, and you know . . . the fun stuff!

Early spring is also the time to cut back the dead foliage from any ornamental grasses. This will be much more difficult if you wait until the new grass foliage is emerging and mingling with the dead leaves. This includes the popular Liriope and Mondo grasses sometimes called "monkey grass." Cutting back ornamental grasses are chores easily accomplished with a pair of manual grass shears or scissors, if the plants are small enough. The taller grasses can be cut back to about six inches tall and the small grasses to about three inches. This is a chore that is best not forgotten, as I found out the hard way one year with my Liriope. I forgot to cut back the dead foliage and the new leaves were already emerging. It was really difficult to cut the brown foliage without damaging the new green shoots.

Cut back dormant plants that need it.

I leave my perennial and annual flowers just as they were in fall and let them go to seed.

The beds may not look as tidy all winter, but I prefer to leave them in case the birds want to eat any of the seeds.