Dandelions are popping up and blooming early this year, and honestly, it’s not much of a mystery. A milder winter and warmer spring gave them a head start. If you’re looking to keep them in check, spot spraying with a three-way weed killer can help. For best results, spray when they’re actively growing and daytime temps are around 60–75°F. Try not to mow right before or after spraying—give it a day or two so the plant can really take in the product.
That said, one of the best long-term fixes is improving your lawn itself. Increasing soil fertility and aerating will help thicken your grass and crowd out weeds naturally. And keep this in mind—fall is actually the most effective time to control dandelions since they’re pulling nutrients down into their roots. This will keep those dandelions from popping up.
Speaking of weed control, a lot of people are asking about Roundup. It’s a nonselective herbicide, meaning it will kill just about anything green it touches. The concern usually centers around glyphosate, but some newer Roundup products now use different active ingredients. That’s why it’s so important to read the label carefully. Not all products are meant for the same use, some are for lawns, others for driveways or gravel areas.
And let’s be honest, most of us skim the label and look at the rates. But the fine print is where the important details are, like where you can safely use it and what plants it may harm. Also, try to spray on calm days. Around here, wind drift can carry herbicides farther than you think and damage nearby plants.
The same goes for “all-natural” herbicides. Just because something sounds safer doesn’t mean it won’t cause damage. Ingredients like vinegar can burn or kill any plant they touch if used improperly. Natural or not, always follow the label directions.
Now, if you’re seeing mushrooms popping up in your lawn, don’t panic. They’re actually doing good work, breaking down organic matter in the soil—often old roots or buried wood. You’ll usually see them after a stretch of rain followed by warm temperatures. Sometimes they even show up in rings, which can point to old root systems underground.
In most cases, they’re harmless and temporary. The only time you may want to remove them is if you’ve got kids or pets that might try to eat them. Otherwise, you can mow them over or let them run their course. Improving drainage and reducing thatch can help cut down on future outbreaks. And no, most lawn mushrooms aren’t edible—best to leave taste-testing off the table.
For those keeping an eye on apple trees, if the freeze doesn’t knock back your crop and you’ve had issues with leaf spotting like scab or rust, it’s time to stay ahead of it. Apple scab usually shows up as dark olive spots on leaves, while cedar rust appears as bright orange spots. An all-purpose orchard spray applied after petals fall and once fruit sets can help manage these issues. From there, you’ll want to stay on a spray schedule—usually every 7–14 days, depending on weather conditions. Good airflow through proper pruning also helps reduce disease pressure.
Planting trees this time of year? Whether they’re bare-root or container-grown, make sure you plant them at the same depth they were growing before. With bare root trees, look for that color change on the trunk—that marks the old soil line. Planting too deeply can lead to bark splitting and rot later on.
If you’re planting from a container and see roots circling, take a knife and make a couple of vertical cuts in two or three places. This keeps the roots from girdling the tree years down the road. After planting, water deeply and keep the soil consistently moist (not soggy) through the first growing season. Adding 2–3 inches of mulch helps retain moisture, just keep it pulled back from the trunk. In our windy conditions, staking young trees for the first year can also help keep them upright.
Another tough shrub to consider is the Pearl Bush. It’s part of the rose family and grows about 5 to 6 feet tall and wide. It’s one of the first shrubs to bloom, covered in white flowers early in the season, and even the dry seed pods add some winter interest. It does best in full sun to light shade and prefers well-drained soil. Like lilacs, it blooms on old wood, so any pruning should be done right after it flowers.
With the early spring we’re seeing, staying a step ahead on lawn care and planting now will make all the difference as we head into summer.