You know that feeling. You catch a scent of spring on the breeze and, instantly, you feel your green thumb waking up. Preparing for the season with a thoughtful, organized approach helps ensure nothing is overlooked — from starting seeds to knowing what and when to fertilize. Use the checklist below to help guide you through the start of the growing season.
download the Spring Gardener's Checklist guideNortheast Ohio
Spring Gardening Checklist
trees & shrubs
early spring care
Pruning | Early spring is a great time to prune most trees and shrubs for size, shape, and to remove any dead, diseased, or damaged growth. Also remove any water sprouts, suckering growth, and crossing branches.
- Prune grafted roses, mophead & oakleaf hydrangeas, and clematis down to the uppermost bud that develops.
- Wait to prune spring-flowering trees and shrubs such as azaleas, rhododendrons, lilacs, and forsythia until after finish blooming.
Fertilizing | Fertilize spring-flowering trees and shrubs with Espoma Organic® Plant-tone or Holly-tone to help give their blooms a boost.
spring bulbs
pruning & fertilizing
Spring-blooming bulbs like Daffodils, Hyacinth, Tulips, and Crocus are easy to care for and bloom reliably year after year here in Northeast Ohio. Fertilize with Espoma Organic® Bulb-tone when stalks begin to emerge from the soil in March & April.
Deadhead spent blooms as they fade, but wait to prune foliage until it yellows or browns. Leaving foliage up helps the bulbs store energy for the following growing season.
perennials
early spring care
Pruning | Cut back any remaining perennial stalks, including ornamental grasses, down to 3-6 inches tall.
Fertilizing | Fertilize perennials as they begin to emerge with Espoma Organic® Plant-tone, per package instructions.
Planting | Begin planting spring ephemeral perennials like Lenten rose, English daisies, and candytuft when the soil is workable and no longer soggy. Protect tender foliage and flowering in the event of a heavy frost or freeze.
perennial bloom calendardeer protection
what to know
When it comes to deer protection, Angelo Petitti’s #1 recommendation is Plantskydd®, available in both granular and liquid form. Granules are recommended for sprinkling around plants as they first emerge from the ground, while the spray is recommended for misting once foliage has flushed out.
veggie gardening
seeds & soil prep
- Start seeds indoors with sterile containers, moistened seed starting soil, and a warm, sunny spot.
- Start amending soil in vegetable garden beds and containers. Soil in garden beds should be workable 10-12 inches deep. Add 2-3 inches of compost or other organic matter each spring to help achieve better drainage and workability.
- Allow amended garden soil to settle for at least two weeks before planting.
lawn care
seeding & fertilizing
Seeding | Early spring is a great time to tackle general lawn maintenance, like seeding, over-seeding, and dethatching.
Fertilizing | Apply a 1st step fertilizer (crabgrass pre-emergent) around Easter. If you’re seeding in spring, use a pre-emergent fertilizer safe for new lawns.
Maintenance | Rake the lawn to remove winter debris.
prepare for spring gardening
the right way

View and download the full spring gardening checklist below.
download full Spring Gardener's Checklist