As the weather begins to warm in the spring, our minds begin to wander toward working in our yards and flower gardens. Now is the time for any last-minute pruning. Prune roses and most other nonspring-blooming plants now, before their new flush. Early spring-blooming plants can be pruned right after blooming if they need a trim.
Spring is also ideal to fertilize shrubs.
Apply a slow-release fertilizer in late March or early April to give plants a good energy supply for the growing season. Be careful not to overfertilize to avoid excess growth and loss of fertilizer to the environment. Early spring is a great time to prepare annual and perennial flower beds. Although it may be too early to actually plant some tender annuals, you can be ready by tilling the bed and adding rich compost or top soil. Be sure to check that the bed drains well for plants' root development.