3/09/2024
Ramsey County Master Gardeners share garden advice for Spring 2024 (March – April – May)
A Note from the Master Gardeners
We’re very excited to announce that our annual plant sale will be at a new, larger location this year: Aldrich Arena in Maplewood! The bigger space means we’ll have more plants to offer — all your favorites, along with new varieties (and plenty of parking as well!) Save the date — May 18th — and don’t miss out!
We also invite you to join us for our spring garden classes, covering growing vegetables and herbs, composting, supporting pollinators and more!Â
In the meantime, we know many of you have concerns about how the warm weather this winter has affected your yard or garden. You can always write or call us with your questions, or visit the Extension website for helpful information.Â
— Your friendly neighborhood Master Gardeners
Spring Garden Activities
MARCH
Start seeds for spring planting — UMN Extension’s seed-starting guide is a helpful reference, as is the DNR’s data on spring frost probabilities
Consider winter sowing or other strategies to get a jump-start on the growing season Â
Given recent warm temperatures, hold off on pruning this year if you can
APRIL
Divide some perennials (April through June)
Start cool-season seeds outside
Direct seed spring cover crops
Apply pre-emergent herbicide for crabgrass control
MAY
Clean up garden beds after night temperatures are above 50 degrees
Plant new trees and shrubs
Spring 2024 Garden News
Be mindful of pollinators: Hold off on spring cleanup!
The best plan for spring cleanup is to hold off until temperatures are consistently over 50 degrees overnight. These warmer temperatures will spur insect eggs to hatch and larvae to emerge that overwintered in standing dead stems.Â
How warm weather affects plants
Worried about how recent warm temperatures are affecting your yard and garden? The University of Minnesota Extension put together this helpful guide on how plants are likely to be affected, and what you can do to manage temperature swings.Â
Fun garden craft: Spring seed bomb
Seed bombs — seeds encased in air-dry clay that disintegrates outdoors — are a fun experiment for the spring, and a great craft to do with kids. Throw some in the garden and see if they work! Check out these instructions from the Minnesota State Horticulture Society.Â
2023 seed trial results are in!
Every year, Master Gardener volunteers from across the state test popular flower and vegetable varieties to find the best return on investment. The results from our 2023 trials are now in! You can view the winners here — including pole beans, carrots, mustard greens, tomatoes, watermelons, purple basil, Melampodium, and Pink Cleome.
Pesticide best management for spring
As spring approaches, we often think back to what worked in our yards last year and what didn’t. If you’re considering using pesticides or herbicides to manage bothersome insects or weeds, take the time to review the Department of Agriculture’s guidelines. Remember, no matter what product you’re using, always read the label and follow directions carefully.Â
Choosing a climate-smart tree
We’ve lost many trees in our region to Emerald Ash Borer in recent years — ash mortality finally hit en masse last spring as many ash trees in the Metro did not leaf out. Whether you’re replacing an ash or just looking for a new tree to add to your landscape, you’ll want to choose a species that’s well suited to the temperature and precipitation changes we’re expecting over the coming decades. Check out Extension’s new list of recommended climate-ready trees for our area. Â
Grants available to upgrade stormwater systemsÂ
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) recently announced a new $35 million grant program to prepare Minnesota’s aging stormwater infrastructure for climate change. Cities, counties, towns, soil and water conservation districts, water management organizations, watershed districts, regional development commissions, and metropolitan planning organizations can apply for funding to upgrade their stormwater systems with climate-smart improvements that will protect drinking water and prevent flooding. Applications are due April 11 — help spread the word!
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More Resources to Help you Grow
Ask a Master Gardener Online & Phone Services
Ramsey County Yard Waste & Food Scraps Drop-off Locations