your early-spring yard + garden checklist 

We’ve been cooped up for far too long. But spring is here to save the day, again. And while we may still have chilly nighttime temps (and even the occasional hard frost), there is plenty you can do out in your yard right now.

Try not to look at this as more for you to do. We see it as a chance to get outside and feel inspired, to feel a sense of accomplishment and there’s nothing to say you can’t pick or choose what you do in your yard and how quickly you check them off.

  

1. REDISCOVER YOUR IMAGINATION.

Altum’s Instagram account is pretty amazing when it comes to inspiration, but truly, inspiration is everywhere. Pay attention to others’ yards on your walks/runs, hop on Instagram or Pinterest, ask an expert anytime here or call (317) 733-4769. And you can always schedule an At-Home Yard + Garden Consultation, where we’ll visit you at home, walk your yard, clarify your goals and share ideas.

2. check for winterburn.

We’re not the only ones to feel the effects of a long cold winter. Call or email us for pointers on spotting winterburn/injury and the recommended course of action.

3. prune as needed.

Now is a good time to prune diseased or dead branches from any tree or plant. Check here for when to prune almost any type of plant, and here for pointers on how to prune like a pro. And let us know if you ever have questions.

4. START FRESH.

Empty your containers and fill with fresh Altum’s potting soil, custom blended for plants that do well in Indiana. Old soil can become compacted and devoid of nutrients over time, so this is always a worthwhile step.

5. banish the bareness

Bring on the color and texture! Liven up your flowerbeds and containers with colorful, frost-tolerant pansies, hellebores, pussywillow stems and other cool-loving annuals and perennials. Add a dose of Blooming and Rooting for big, healthy blooms all season.

Or, for busy people and people who don’t want to get their hands dirty, check out our convenient, pre-planted Porch Pots you drop right into your containers or our Porch Pot Membership, for the ultimate in year-round style and convenience.

6. LET THEM EAT…FERTILIZER.

Give your trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs some much-needed sustenance with all-natural Organic Plant Magic or 12-12-12 All Purpose Fertilizer.

7. pre-order trees.

You shouldn’t have to choose from what’s left on someone’s lot. When you pre-order your trees at Altum’s, you can make purposeful choices; trees you love and ones that make good additions to your landscape and lifestyle. Read tags and ask us before you buy to make sure you have enough space for your mature tree or shrub, that you won’t have to prune excessively, that water requirements match your expectations, sun/shade and more.

We also offer planting services if you’d like us to take care of everything for you. And when we do, you qualify for a No-Worries 3-Year Warranty.

8. BEAT WEEDS TO THE PUNCH

You can pull them as they pop up, or you can kill weeds before they appear with an application of Hi-Yield Pre-emergent Weed + Grass Stopper before spreading a fresh layer of Altum’s Premium Hardwood and Forest Fines Mulch in tree and shrub beds.

9. GIVE YOUR LAWN SOME LOVE

We want you to love your lawn. We’re big proponents in adding more planting beds, hardscape, etc. and reducing our lawns when and where we can. But we have some good advice for those of you moving into new homes or renovating an entire lawn as well as if you’re just filling in and spot speeding.

Using high-quality grass seed formulated especially for Central Indiana lawns gives you the strongest start. And we highly recommend EZ Mulch to keep your seed in place and well-hydrated without overwatering.

10. SPIFF UP YOUR TOOLS

If you didn’t clean your yard and garden tools before the end of the year, now is a good time. If you notice rust spots, remove with steel wool, then spray with a rust-prohibitive paint.

11. watch the weather.

This time of year requires us to be flexible in Indiana. Weather can chance drastically from day to day. If you see that there will be a hard freeze or even especially frosty temps, move container plants into the garage or gently cover. The same goes for tender new shoots and buds in your landscape.

Have questions? Please call us at (317)733-4769 and we’d be happy to talk you through everything. Or you can always Ask An Expert. We’re here to help you love your yard this spring and all year.