Yes. However, wait until the soil has a chance to warm up. Maintaining a 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch is all that is necessary.

Yes. Many plants are available for purchase during spring when weather conditions are generally favorable for plant establishment. Plant early, after danger of frost and before summer stress.

Yes, many trees and shrubs can be pruned during spring. However, spring blooming plants (azaleas, rhododendrons, forsythia, lilac) should be pruned after they flower. During early spring, some plants may bleed, but this causes no permanent damage.

Homeowners and professional arborists depend on mulch in landscapes for several reasons. Functionally, mulches discourage weeds from growing, conserve moisture during drought periods, and allow better use of water by controlling runoff and increasing water-holding capacity of light, sandy soils. Mulches help maintain a uniform soil temperature.

June is a great month to plant trees, shrubs and groundcovers. Pay close attention to their watering requirements because their root systems will be in the original soil ball of the plant for the first several months. Note that these plants may require an occasional hand watering until they begin to establish.

When tulips first appear, remove half of the mulch and the remaining mulch 10 to 14 days later. The new growth will be okay if the temp dips to 20 degrees F for three consecutive nights. If it is colder than that, re-mulch and remove when temp warms up again. During years of late frosts after the blooms are set, you may lose the blooms for that year, but the plant will come back the next spring.

When doing a new planting, use one part Spring Earth mixed with three parts of soil as a backfill. For plants already in the ground, add a 1" topdressing each spring and fall under the plant leaves in the area defined as the drip line.

Mulch is a wonderful protector of trees, since lawnmowers and weed-whackers are the most common cause of tree injuries. BUT – too much mulch is also your tree’s enemy. The mulch should not touch the trunk of the tree, since the moist mulch provides a perfect home for decay-causing fungi. A layer of no more than 6 inches of mulch is fine, and can extend as far out into your lawn or garden as you wish.

Since these plants bloom on previous year's wood, they should be pruned after they bloom or else you will sacrifice flower buds. Pruning should be done within six weeks after blooming. This is also a good time to feed them. We recommend Merrifield Flowering Plant Food, a high phosphorous formula that will promote flowering. These plants should be pruned in the early spring before the new growth begins to emerge. Bigleaf, Oakleaf and Climbing Hydrangeas are an exception to this rule.

BOB: While there are a few trees (Oaks and "fleshy rooted" trees) that should only be dug in the spring, most plants today are containerized or balled-and-burlapped (B+B) and can be planted anytime of the year. [More about shrub planting and tree planting]

Late fall or winter is the best time to do your transplanting because most plant material is dormant and you will have a less likely chance of the plant going into shock. You also need to make sure you water the newly transplanted material before you fill the hole in with dirt. And every day for the next week, you should water the plant using a slow trickle to ensure that the roots get a thorough soaking.

Mulch is a layer of protective covering that sits above your soil. A mulch is good under your roses for several reasons. First, it helps to hold down the growth of weeds. Second, it helps to keep the water from evaporating out of the soil. Third, it helps to keep the temperature even and insulates it from both excess heat or cold. Fourth, it makes earthworms stay at a higher level in the soil where they do more good for the soil improvement.

This question can have a number of valid responses depending on what materials are available at a reasonable price. Agricultural products which are common in one area may be impossible to find in other areas. Many rosarians here on the Northern California coastline prefer to use shredded redwood bark which lasts a long time as it breaks down slowly. It also has a natural, pleasing appearance and stays in place quite well.

My White Pine trees have lots of inner needles that have just recently turned yellow. Are the trees dying? (September question)

BOB: If there is less than one-inch of rainfall per week, thoroughly water new trees and shrubs once a week during the growing season (spring and summer).

Many local nurseries carry plants that make good wildlife habitat. In addition, the state operates a nursery in Ames. Orders are taken every year during the winter for spring delivery. The phone number for the state forest nursery is (800) 865-2477. The local NRCS District also sometimes orders plants for wildlife and windbreak plantings. Their number is (712) 943-6727.

Most major pruning on deciduous plants (plants that loose their leaves in fall) should be done when the plant is dormant. During the growing season, a plant's leaves contain food, in the form of sugars. Removing these leaves, before they are able to send this food back down to the plants roots in fall, will rob the plant of essential food and stunt it's growth.