Get Your Garden Ready For Spring

Wall of seeds in a store

Tips To Get Your Garden Ready For Spring

Spring is just around the corner, we think. If you are ready to get outside and get your hands dirty, these tips are for you. Seven tips to help you get your garden ready for spring.

Order Seeds

The seed company catalogs have probably already arrived so take some time to peruse the pages and place your orders. Be sure to try something different that you have not grown before. As gardens grow, so do our skills as gardeners.

Cut Back Perennials and Ornamental Grasses

If you have not already cut these plants back, now is the time to do so before they start growing again. For most perennials and ornamental grasses, it is okay to cut them back to within a few inches of ground level. Some people like to keep ornamental grasses up for the winter (they can be quite attractive) and this is fine but be sure to cut them back before the start growing again. Remove any dead plants as they will not grow back under any conditions. Be sure to put all cuttings in the compost bin.

Dormant Shrub Pruning

This is an ideal time to thin out many shrubs. Viburnums, lilac, red twig dogwoods among others benefit from this kind of pruning. Remove any damaged or dying branches, crossing branches and competing branches.

Inspect Your Tools

Look over your tools for damage, sharpen shears and shovels (it really does make digging easier), and take your mower in to be serviced. A little preparation now will save tons of time and grief later on.

Test Your Soil

It all starts with the soil. Send in a sample to a lab or your local extension service. They can test for major nutrients, minor nutrients and the pH level. Doing so now will give you plenty of time to take corrective measures.

Divide Perennials

Most perennials respond well to dividing and you get more plants to spread around your garden. Don’t have room for more plants? Share or trade them with your friends. What a great way to spread the joy.

Edge and Mulch

If the weather will allow it, why not edge and mulch your ornamental garden beds now? Mulching can be done at any time of the year. Your garden beds will look great and a large garden task will be out of the way.

Allentuck Landscaping Co. is Your Residential Landscape Company

Phone: 301-515-1900 Email: info@allentucklandscaping.com

Houzz Service Awards

At Allentuck Landscaping Company, our mission is to create beautiful environments for people to enjoy. We see landscaping as a way to improve people’s lives.

The Allentuck Landscaping Company team has been a leading landscape company in Montgomery County, Maryland for over 28 years with our turnkey approach to landscape design, installation, construction and maintenance. Most companies try to serve many types of customers at the same time; homeowners, shopping centers, office buildings and the list goes on. At Allentuck Landscaping Co., we focus on one customer, you, the homeowner. We have a singular focus on bringing you the best landscape practices, the best customer service, and the best value for your home.

Services Provide – Master Landscape Plans, Complete Maintenance Programs, Plantings, Patios, Walkways, Retaining Walls, Water Features, Outdoor Lighting, Outdoor Kitchens, Trellises & Pergolas, Irrigation Systems, Drainage Solutions, Grading & Sodding. Fire Pits & Fire Places, Spring Clean Ups, Decks, Fences, Mosquito & Tick Control, Deer Control.

Areas Served – Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Potomac, Rockville, North Potomac, Darnestown, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Damascus, Boyds, Clarksburg, Ijamsville, Urbana, Frederick in Maryland and Washington DC.

Does Snow Damage Landscape Plants?

Branches are drooping. Evergreens are buried. Your garden suddenly looks like it’s been flattened overnight. And the question hits fast: Does snow damage landscape plants? Sometimes yes. Often no.The real answer depends on what kind of snow you get, what plants you have, and whether you step in at the right moment—or make things worse by doing too much. Let’s break it down in a simple, homeowner-friendly way. Does Snow Damage Landscape Plants in Winter? Most of the time, snow

READ MORE »

Top February Garden Tips: Preparing for Spring Growth

February is a crucial month for gardeners, making it the perfect time to focus on the top February garden tips to prepare for the upcoming spring season. While winter still lingers, small signs of new growth begin to appear, signaling that it’s time to start planning, pruning, and protecting your landscape. By tackling key gardening tasks now, you’ll set the stage for a vibrant and thriving garden in the months ahead. 1. Prune Trees and Shrubs: Top February Garden Tips

READ MORE »

5 Top January Gardening Tips: Starting the Year Right in Your Garden

January marks the start of a new year, making it the perfect time to focus on the top January gardening tips for planning, preparing, and caring for your landscape during the quiet winter months. While most plants are dormant, there’s still plenty you can do to ensure a healthy and productive garden come spring. 1. Top January Gardening Tips for Pruning and Maintenance January is the ideal time for pruning deciduous trees and shrubs while they’re dormant: Remove Deadwood: Cut

READ MORE »

2026 Landscape Trends That Will Change How You Live Outdoors

Something big is happening out there, and it’s not subtle. Homeowners are rethinking yards — not as green fields to mow, but as spaces that work harder, feel better, and look unmistakably intentional. Welcome to the world of 2026 Landscape Trends, where beauty meets purpose and everyday life gets better outside. These aren’t wild ideas. They’re grounded in how people are actually using their outdoor spaces — from morning coffee to sunset gatherings. Let’s dive into six trends that are

READ MORE »

Should Ornamental Grasses Be Cut Back In Winter?

They look wild. A little messy. Maybe even forgotten.And every winter, homeowners stare out the window and ask the same question: Should ornamental grasses be cut back in winter, or left alone? The answer isn’t a simple yes or no. It depends on what you want your landscape to do during the cold months—and how you want it to perform come spring. Cut too early and you can weaken the plant. Leave them too long without a plan and things

READ MORE »

Winter Landscaping Ideas: How to Keep Your Yard Vibrant All Season Long

Winter landscaping ideas often get overlooked. It’s easy to assume your yard will look dull and lifeless once the leaves fall and snow starts to settle. But that’s just not true. You can have a beautiful, eye-catching landscape that shines through the quietest, coldest months. The key is knowing where to focus your efforts and what to plant, build, or highlight to keep your outdoor space alive with color, texture, and interest. Let’s break down some simple, practical winter landscaping

READ MORE »