4 tasks you can do now to spruce up your yard

Once the snow melts, it can be tempting to start puttering in perennial beds and tackling other outdoor tasks.

Hold on to your hoe, though, says Culver's Garden Center & Greenhouse nursery manager Chad Avery.

'It's too early yet to be doing planting, but there are things you can do in your garden now,' to scratch the gardening itch and spruce up landscaping that has been dormant all winter, he says.

Grass and perennials

Avery recommends cutting ornamental grasses — those used in landscaping — and most perennials to about 2 inches. Hostas and day lilies don't need to be trimmed, but dry leaves should be pulled up.

'It means less mess, less insects and any disease that was on that foliage will be cleaned up,' he says. 'If there is no disease or insects on the leaves, you can compost them. Otherwise, throw them away.'

Shrubs

Prune summer-blooming shrubs now. But leave spring-blooming shrubs — like lilacs and rhododendrons — alone to avoid cutting off new buds. Wait until they're blooming to trim.

'Prune a little bit at a time. You can always prune more off, but once you go too far, you can't get that back,' Avery says.

Trees

Spring is a good time to trim trees. Stay away from oaks, though. Trimming them now could leave them susceptible to oak wilt.

'Oak trees should only be pruned in the dead of winter,' Avery says.

Don't paint over wounds on trimmed trees. Prevent infection by keeping them clean and letting them dry naturally.

Lawns

It's still a little early to fertilize, Avery says. Wait a few more weeks for it to warm up a bit more, then spread a slow release fertilizer.

You can also pick up any remaining leaves from the fall and put down new mulch if you need to.

• Do you have a project you want to tackle? Send suggestions to Alison Gowans at (319) 398-8434; alison.gowans@thegazette.com