Winter weather is comfortably in our rearview mirror; however, the challenges caused by the cold, snow and ice remained at the forefront of our minds all throughout the spring season. Many of us anxiously awaited the return of our favorite ornamentals in the landscape, hoping that plants were A-OK and not D.O.A. as the weather warmed up. In the spring publication of Horticulture Hints, patience and pruning were suggested as the proper courses of action. Patience for some plants to come back to life (i.e., woody perennials) and pruning for other plants to support a fresh flush of growth for the season (a Valentine’s Day pruning for roses; an early March pruning of ornamental grasses) were suggested practices. For the eager gardener, holding out hope that their favorite trees and shrubs survived the cold, the scratch test was suggested to assess whether the plant could fight another round or was down for the count. Regardless of whether plants were bid farewell (or good riddance), the spring season saw many successful sales at retail garden centers and spring events throughout the state. As attention turns to summer, take the opportunity to properly support new plants as well as give one last chance to breathe life into plants that were a little worse for wear following winter.

Patience is indeed a virtue, but at a certain point inaction can be an issue. For plants that have yet to show signs of survival, more aggressive measures may need to be taken to reinvigorate growth. In general, it is not a good idea to remove more than one-third of the plant material when pruning. This puts significant strain on the plant to survive. However, if the plant is in dire straits, it may pay off to prune more.

After the snow melted and cold weather subsided, sweet viburnums (Viburnum odoratissimum) were commonly cited as a plant that unfavorably fared winter’s chill. As a last-ditch effort, it may be worthwhile to cut the plant down closer to the ground and provide a healthy dose of fertilizer to support a fresh flush of growth. Do we normally want to remove so much growth? No. Do we normally want to hard prune Viburnum before the spring flower display? No. But do desperate times call for desperate measures? Sometimes, yes. If the decision must be made between aggressively pruning a plant or letting it linger on death’s door, then there is nothing to lose and everything to gain by giving it a shot. Make the cuts and add a little fertilizer to the ground to hopefully spur new growth.

Figure 1. Remove mulch around a tree’s trunk to expose the root flare.

While the past is the past, purchases made this spring can be supported through several methods to protect your investment. Spring was a great time to put new plants in the ground, with woody perennials promising year-after-year interest in the landscape. However, to make good on this potential, it is important to provide proper conditions and management practices to support long-term health.

If best planting practices were followed, the hole width was at least twice as wide, and the plant was installed with the root flare just above grade.

Was it mulched properly? Mulch provides a range of benefits to the landscape, such as helping to moderate soil temperatures, retain moisture and suppress weeds. Improper mulching practices can wreak havoc on new plants. What should you do? A thin layer (2 to 4 inches) of organic mulch (i.e., pine straw, shredded wood or other natural mulch) can be spread around the plantings to act as a buffer between soil and air. Mulch will help soil temperature changes remain more muted throughout the summer season, creating conditions that are more conducive to healthy plant growth. One of the most frequent mistakes with mulching involves piling up material against the trunk of the tree. Avoid building these “mulch volcanoes” around the trunk, as this can lead to disease issues and choke out the roots from much needed oxygen. If mulch mistakes were made, carefully remove some of the mulch around the trunk to create a more manageable saucer shape that exposes the root flare (Figure 1).

You may notice some plants sending suckers up from the base (Figure 2). Pruning off suckers can assist the plant in focusing resources on desired growth.

Figure 2. Prune off suckers that come up from the base of some plants.

What about fertilizing? New trees and shrubs may not need fertilizer the first year. Instead, allow it to grow into its new home naturally over the first season.

What about watering? New transplants benefit from more frequent watering in order to ensure that the smaller root mass has access to water before it evaporates from the surface or percolates too deep into the soil. Established trees generally will benefit from less frequent but more thorough watering. Of course, this all depends on what Mother Nature has in store for the summer. Many years are quite forgiving, with ample rainfall reducing the risk of soil drying out too quickly; however, as we observed two summers ago, extended droughts are not out of the realm of possibility. Closely monitor weather conditions to ensure plant needs are met. Droughts have a funny way of causing people to tell on themselves when it comes to watering habits.

Speaking of summer weather, don’t forget to lock down other features in the landscape. An ill-timed storm can cause items to blow through your garden and turn possessions into projectiles. When windy weather is imminent, take precautions to mitigate things moving around. Umbrellas should be closed. Chairs and other furniture should be tied down and precariously positioned branches should be removed. While the appropriate time to prune varies between plants, you can remove dead, dying, diseased or damaged branches from the landscape at any time.

So, as we set our sights on summer, take the time to give one final shot at life for plants that suffered this winter. If you are deliberating between removing a plant entirely or continuing to wait for it to recover, give it a hard cut. You probably have nothing to lose. Make sure that new and existing plants are supported with proper management practices including mulch, fertilizer and water. Remove suckers as they appear from your existing plants. Finally, make sure that various landscape features and objects are tied down in the event of windy weather.