By Kim Snowdon
Colorado Master Gardener

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant.” — Anne Bradstreet

This mild winter is leaving gardeners wondering, will snow still come?

Bulbs are emerging, trees are budding and some perennials never died back. So, when and how to approach spring cleanup of your garden?

First, make sure garden tools are clean and in good working order.

Increasingly, gardeners are mindful of supporting insect life. Wait to begin cleanup until daytime temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees. Prioritize areas that are aesthetically important to tidy up such as near the front door or front edges of borders. Leave other areas for later.

This approach will give overwintering insects a chance to emerge before being disturbed. Leaf litter provides shelter to hibernating bumble bees and arthropods. Solitary bees, the majority of our native bee species, overwinter underground or in hollow stems of perennials. Consider stacking stalks in small loose piles at the back of the border or laying where cut, to be cleared later. 

Cut back perennials to the base of stems, avoiding new growth.  Delicate stalks like columbine and lupine can be snapped off by hand near the base of stems. Use a small hand rake or gloved hands to clear leaves from around the crown of plants to reduce risk of diseases.

Ornamental grasses can be cut back in early spring. Evergreen grasses such as blue avena shouldn’t be cut back, but rather comb through foliage with a hand rake or gloved hands (leaves can be sharp) to dislodge dead leaves. Warm-season grasses should be cut back to 2-3” before new growth appears. Divide grasses if the center of the clump begins to die back. Best done in spring, especially for evergreen grasses or cool season grasses, dig up the entire clump, divide with a knife or shovel if a large clump, removing the dead portions. Replant clumps wherever you want new plants.

Spring is a good time to prune shrubs but it’s important to understand the shrub’s blooming pattern. Early flowering shrubs should be pruned after they’ve flowered. Later summer flowering shrubs can be pruned in early spring as their flowers are produced on new growth. Remove dead, damaged, or diseased branches. Some branches may be removed to increase air circulation and light penetration into the shrub.

Pruning trees requires careful consideration.  Members of the apple family, including fruit trees, crabapples, and mountain ash, should be pruned while dormant in late fall and winter to reduce risk of diseases like fire blight. Remove dead, damaged, diseased, or disfigured branches, including those that are crossing or rubbing.  Consult a licensed arborist if unsure how to prune your trees.

Replenish mulch to maintain 2-3” of coverage preserving soil moisture, regulating soil temperatures, and reducing weeds.  Leave space around the base of woody stems.  Existing mulch can be “fluffed” with a rake to improve appearance and function. Now, step back and enjoy the arrival of spring!

The in-person help desk is closed for the season. Submit gardening questions online at ask.extension.org or call 719-520-7684. Questions will be routed to El Paso County Master Gardeners and answered remotely and by phone.