Here are some tips for making sure your grounds recover when sunshine returns:
1. Cut back perennials — if it’s not too late.
Now that winter’s over, trim any shrubs and other plants that have grown too big or leggy, but not if new buds and other growth have already begun.
“Cut back to where you see the new growth,” Coleman advised, “otherwise, leave it alone. You won’t kill a perennial by cutting it back now, but it may not have the time frame and strength it needs to come back and produce a bud or flower this summer.”
That said, bushes will need trimming earlier than usual this year, likely mid-May, because of all the rain.
2. Pull any weeds, but skip the chemicals.
The near record-breaking rainfall means weeds are growing like crazy right now. Most chemical weed killers and barriers, including pre-emergent, won’t work well this year because they can only handle about half an inch of water before being too diluted to be effective.
“We’re getting a half an inch a day,” Coleman said. “A lot of us are going to see a lot more broadleaf in our nice Kentucky bluegrass lawns, and the dandelions are going to be incredible this year.”
You can pull weeds by hand until the sun returns, knowing they’ll come back. Some of the weeds, like Canadian thistle, have roots going 30 inches to the ground. But Coleman says the best approach is to “sit back, grin and bear it. We need help from Mother Nature.”
3. Natural mulch about an inch deep.
“Your mulch provides more nutrients to the bed through organic matter,” said Matt Turner of Turner Landscaping in St. Paris. “That reduces how much fertilizer you need to keep the plants healthy.”
Turner also recommended putting down about an inch of brown hardwood mulch with chunks of bark in it. Powdery mulch can harden and not allow water to pass through, he says, and black mulch involves chemical dyes. “We’ll find pieces of asphalt in it,” he said. “And dyed mulch is actually more expensive: you can get a dyed mulch for about $30, you can get a brown mulch for probably $28.”
4. Edge beds with a spade.
Give your gardens and landscaping a good border to help prevent weeds, improve drainage and provide a clean, visual edge.
5. Sweep and scrub patios and decks.
Winter debris, including leaves, can be both unsightly and damaging to outdoor structures. Use a stiff broom to clear the material and a scrub brush or power washer to prevent mold, fungi and other problems from taking hold.
6. Check joints between pavers.
The gaps between paving stones and tiles should still be solid. If the sand between the pavers has washed away, add fresh and pack it down until level. If your patio is sealed, check for cracks or other problems that developed during the winter.
“Check for erosion around retaining walls this year, too,” Coleman said. “And replace that soil as quickly as you can.”
7. Check for any cracked or settled bricks.
Pull up and repair or replace any problem bricks or tiles.
8. Manage your container garden.
Ron Wilson of Natorp’s Landscape and Maintenance in Mason said outdoor plant containers should have good potting soil but no saucers underneath.
“Otherwise, they hold water, and they need to be able to drain,” Wilson said. “If you get to the point where it just doesn’t seem like it’s going to stop raining, then you can move them up near the house or under an overhang so they can dry out.”
No matter the weather, he said, container gardening can start anytime in a garage or work shed. “Then move them back outside as needed. It’s a great way to extend the vegetable gardening season.”
9. Check drainage throughout yard, especially near downspouts.
“With all the rain this year, you’re going to need to watch where you have low spots,” Turner said. “You may need to add drainage to the yard, especially by the house. You can always hook your downspouts up to drain tiles so the water doesn’t go right from the gutters into the foundation.”
10. Don’t work too much on wet soil.
Garden beds and lawns can handle plenty of rain, so long as they’re not sitting in standing pools of water (see tip No. 9.)
“With plants, the water is going to drain through and not do too much damage,” Turner said. “But you don’t want to be working out in the yard too much when it’s soaking wet, because you’re going to compact the soil.”
Contact life and events contributing writer Ria Megnin with story ideas at ria@riamegnin.com.
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