Yard and Garden Cleanup After Ice Storm

I am looking over my yard and garden to do list and I need to cleanup the lawn and the spring bulb gardens. Last month’s ice storm caused us to have many down branches.  We removed the large branches but there many smaller branches they need to be picked up. Hopefully I will accumulate enough sticks to  ask my hubby to add them to the wood chipper because they will make nice mulch for the garden.

When I finish the removal of down branches from the lawn, I will then concentrate on the gardens.  

Our one maple tree holds onto its leaves until late winter however many of the leaves did come down after the ice storm and fell onto my spring bulb garden. I think it is a good idea to remove the leaves and any mulch from the early spring gardens as it will make it easier for delicate crocus to come up. 

Hopefully the day will stay warm as I also have on my list to replace some parts of my mulch garden path .  Winter was hard and did pull much away from the path.  All In need to do is fill in because it is spotty. 

I hope I can get everything on my list completed, as it late January and before you know it spring garden beds will be blooming. 

Daffodil spring bulb garden

Old-Fashioned Lilacs Growing Tips

Grow old-fashioned lilac's and you will enjoy fragrant flowers every spring.  This spring-blooming flowering shrub will grow in your yard for many generations provided that you meet it's growing requirements.  

  

I love my lilacs and in the spring when the flowers bloom, the fragrance is wonderful.   Over the years I have taken many photographs of my lilac blooms and turned those photographs here are a few.

Know that growing the lilacs and getting blooms such as the ones in the photo card that it will take several years. So I recommend that you buy a nursery-grown shrub to plant in your yard.

Here are some growing tips

1. You can grow the old-fashioned lilac as a flowering hedge and it will provide privacy as the lilac will grow to 15 feet in height with a 12-foot spread.   
2. Select a growing site that offers full sun with well-drained soil.  The roots of the lilac are deep and prefer to not be wet so plant on the top of a hill or in an area where the water drains well. 
3. Plant the old-fashioned lilac in the spring after the threat of frost has passed.  
4. If you purchase a lilac from the nursery gently remove it from the container.  Hydrate the roots by filling a large bucket with tepid water.  
5. Set the lilac root ball in the water for a half-hour.  While the roots are hydrating prepare your planting site. 
6. Loosen the soil with your shovel and amend the soil with compost or manure.  
7. Dig a hole that is the same depth and width as the lilac container. 
8. Plant the lilac when it is hydrated.  Set the root ball in the center hole and fill the hole up with soil.  
9. Water well.

Hand pull weeds then apply 4 inches of mulch

Caring for Lilacs

1. Keep the growing site weed-free. 
2. Apply 3 to 4 inches of mulch around the base of the lilac.  The mulch will help to retain moisture and discourage weed growth.  
3. In early spring remove the mulch and apply compost or manure around your lilac shrub. This is a natural way to fertilize your flowering shrub.
4. Reapply the mulch after you add the compost or manure. 

Other Garden Tips 

• Remove spent flowers
• Prune or shape annually after the lilac has flowered
• Butterflies and hummingbirds will visit your yard when the lilacs bloom
• Hardy in growing zones 3-7