Keep the mulch nearby if temperatures fall into the 20s or lower. Test the soil to see if it is ready to be worked. Squeeze and release a handful in your palm. If the soil stays in a ball, it needs more time to dry out. Locate these in a well-drained spot where they'll get at least six hours of full sun a day, not only now but also later this spring when the landscape leafs out.
Plant woody ornamental trees and shrubs.
Bare-root plants are best transplanted when dormant. Plants that are in containers or balled and burlapped may be planted any time during the growing season. Left uncut, those leaves produce carbohydrates, which help the plant develop new roots and survive transplanting more easily. We're looking for reader questions for a special Detroit Free Press gardening section to run April 14. Detroit Free Press and may not be republished without permission.