• Annuals and Perennials - Attract beneficial insects to your landscape by planting a wide variety of flowering annuals and peren­nials that will bloom over the entire growing season. Good choices are plants in the following families: daisy (marigolds, daises, asters, mums), carrot (dill, fennel, anise, yarrow, parsley) and mint (all mints and thymes).

• Pinch out the flower buds of asters, mums, goldenrod and other fall bloomers to keep plants bushy and prevent early flowering.

• Many garden weeds, like dock and sheep sorrel, have seed heads that are beginning to ripen. Pulling weeds out of your garden beds at this time will help minimize weed problems. Tear-thumb, also known as mile-a-minute vine (insert photo link), germi­nates in early spring and can be seen growing now. The triangular shaped leaves have stems with curved spines. This invasive weed can quickly take over a garden bed. • Cut Iris flower stalks down to the crown when they are finished blooming. Leave the foliage alone.

• Let spring bulb foliage die back naturally. Don’t fold over or braid foliage. At this time the bulb absorbs nutrients it requires for growth the following year.

• Flower beds should be mulched after plants are growing vigorously. Shredded pine bark mulch or chopped leaves make good mulches. The depth should be no more than 1-3”. Avoid placing mulch against the plant stems.

• Groundcovers - Consider planting a groundcover this spring in areas of your yard where the turf is consistently weak. Ground­covers are especially useful on slopes, in shaded areas under trees, and as a border around buildings and garden beds. Before planting a groundcover, work in organic matter and add lime and fertilizer according to soil test recommendations. Groundcov­ers for sunny areas include creeping thyme, creeping phlox, creeping dianthus, oregano, plumbago, and lambs ear. Some good shady area groundcovers include vinca , astilbe, epimedium, coral bells, wild ginger, hosta, and sweet woodruff. Check with local nurseries for other plant ideas and specific cultivars. Groundcovers are also useful as a border around buildings and garden beds. However, do not plant these rapid growers near property lines or woodlands where they may become invasive.

• Vines - Some annual vines to consider include scarlet runner and hyacinth beans, cardinal flower, moonflower, mandevilla, thunbergia (black-eyed Susan vine), nasturtiums and morning glories. Hops make an interesting, fast-growing perennial vine and produce fragrant cones used in beer making. They can be planted now and allowed to climb on a fence or trellis.