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From the UGA Extension: Preparing your landscapes for spring
Richard Evans
Richard Evans

Richard Evans

County Extension Coordinator

Spring will soon be here.

We need to prepare our landscapes for spring - and this preparation is often done in February. In the next few weeks I will remind you of some garden jobs that need to be done soon to prepare your grounds for the spring growth flush.

Border grasses, like liriope, form a new set of leaves every year. Last year’s leaves probably look bad by now. They should be removed before growth begins in the spring.

An easy way to do this is to set your lawn mower blade higher and then mow the liriope. Be careful not to damage the crown but merely cut off the old leaves. The cut ends will be covered by the newly emerging leaves. Liriope can also be cut using shears.

Be careful not to damage the new leaves. If they are cut, they will show those cuts all year. To avoid cutting the new leaves, mow the liriope early before the new leaves begin to grow. Early February is a good time. Before cutting, check to see if leaves have began to grow. If so, cut old leaves in such a way as to not damage new leaves.

After cutting, fertilize the liriope lightly. Apply 3/4 lb. of 12-4-8 or 16-4-8 or 1 lb. of 10-10-10 or 8-8-8 per square feet. Scatter the fertilizer over the top and water it in. February is also a good time to move liriope. Dig and split clumps and then re-plant no deeper than they originally grow. Water after planting to settle soil around the roots.

Other plants can be pruned now, especially woody plants.

Although there are many ways to prune - there are a few basics we can cover here. For pruning specifics, call the Extension Office for advice and a publication. Roses especially need to be pruned soon.

When do we prune? Spring flowering shrubs are pruned after they bloom. We delay pruning to keep from cutting off the blooms. Other shrubs are pruned in the dormant season before they bud out in the spring. February is a good time to do this.

Some shrubs may have outgrown their location. They need to be drastically pruned to get them back in size and balance with their location. Many can be pruned to about 18 inches. If the plant is in good shape and is pruned in February, it has a very good chance of recovering and growing normally. Remember though, there is a small chance of this procedure killing or stunting the plant.

We do not recommend this drastic pruning for other times of the year since it may be more likely to damage the plant then. When pruning, remove dead broken and diseased limbs, limbs that are rubbing other limbs and limbs with mistletoe on them. Pruning fruit trees opens them up allowing better light penetration and air movement. This should reduce disease and improve fruit quality.

Prune most fruits in February.

Call the Extension Office for a publication on how to prune the specific fruit you have.

Since we have so many pecans in Coastal Georgia, let me review a few pruning basics as outlined by UGA Pecan Specialist Andrew Sawyer.

It is best to prune pecan trees during the winter when the leaves are off the tree and the sap is in the trunk. Prune yard trees to remove limbs that interfere with mowing or movement under the tree. Also remove broken limbs, limbs that interfere with power lines or those that rub against the house. Let the power company remove limbs close to power lines though, since even touching lines with a limb may electrocute you.

When pruning pecan trees, make an undercut and then cut the limb off to keep it from splitting. After the limb is removed then come back and make a clean cut that is as close to the trunk as possible. If any stub is left on the pecan tree, it will tend to rot. It is best to cut close to the tree so that the wound sheds water and so it will heal in one or two seasons.

Be careful not to damage the branch collar though. This is the slightly raised circle on the main trunk surrounding the limb. If this is damaged, the tree will take longer to heal.

Get ready for spring - it will soon be here. Prune plants to shape, remove dead or diseased limbs and in general make them more attractive. Pruning fruit trees also makes them more productive. Pruning now will lead to better growth later.

It is like the proverb about children “Raise them up in the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it”. Care now will prevent concern later on.

Feel free to contact your County Extension service with any specific questions you might have, we are a free service to the public.

Richard Evans is a UGA County Extension Coordinator serving Bryan and Chatham counties. He can be reached at revans90@uga.edu.


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