1. Renew mulch on perennials and shrubs. Be sure to sprinkle some blood meal in with the new mulch to compensate for nitrogen loss. When mulch breaks down it gobbles up nitrogen like crazy, robbing the plants it protects.

2. Prune roses. Cut back the winterkilled wood down to live wood. You can tell where green wood starts by the faint green ring just inside the outer bark of the canes. This will encourage new growth. 

3. Get a soil test. I can’t stress enough how important this is. Especially for the vegetable garden. I never thought it made much difference until I started having my soil analyzed. I discovered I was giving it far too much nitrogen and not nearly enough of the other essential elements. Once I began amending my soil properly, my yields increased and plants were much healthier.

4. Add amendments.  If you can take a handful of soil, mush it into a ball and bounce it lightly on your palm without the ball falling to bits, it’s too soon to till. However, you can add amendments to the top of your beds. Sprinkle peat moss or compost over the garden and add whatever your soil test results recommends.

5. Service power tools. Change the gas and oil in your rototiller and lawn mower. Sharpen the lawn mower blade. Check spark plugs and pull chords and replace them if necessary.

6. Build a cold frame. Anyone who’s never utilized a cold frame is missing early vegetables. You can make an easy and portable cold frame using hay bales and an old storm window, preferably one with a wooden frame. Stack hay bales two high in a size to match the window and place the glass on top of them. Remember to vent it during the day. A block of wood makes a handy vent. Plant your frame with lettuces, kale and other cold loving crops.

7. Check floating row covers, hot caps and other season extenders. Pull out all your season extenders and check for tears and holes. Fill up walls-o-water and look for leaks.

8. Sharpen hand tools. You can’t do a good job with dull tools. 

9. Set paving stones. Spring is a great time to build walkways. The soil is soft and easy to dig. Be sure to lay a good base under them, as they are also more apt to settle at this time of year.

10. Build garden structures. Now’s the perfect time to use fruit tree prunings to make lattices and other structures to support vining plants. Use fine wire to lash long straight branches together to produce rustic decorative supports.

11. Cut back ornamental grasses. You have enjoyed their graceful beauty all winter, but they should be clipped back in spring to encourage new growth. Mark the spot so you won’t accidentally mow them down before they grow tall enough to recognize.