Gardening tips for Southeast Michigan

7 gardening tips

1. Test before you amend

   A soil test tells you your pH and nutrient levels so you add only what the bed actually needs. MSU Extension sells home soil test kits, and spring or fall are both good times to sample.

2. Don't work wet clay

   Many Macomb County yards have heavy clay soil. In spring, squeeze a handful: if it forms a sticky ball, wait a few days. Digging or tilling wet clay compacts it for the rest of the season.

3. Improve soil with compost

   Mixing a few inches of compost into the top layer of a new bed improves drainage in clay and helps sandy spots hold water. Top-dress existing beds with compost each year rather than digging around established roots.

4. Mulch 2 to 3 inches deep, never against stems

   A layer of shredded bark or wood mulch holds moisture and blocks weeds. Pull it back a few inches from shrub stems and tree trunks; piled-up “mulch volcanoes” trap moisture against bark and invite rot and pests.

5. Water deeply, less often

   Most established beds do well with about an inch of water a week from rain plus watering. Water early in the morning at the base of plants, and soak the root zone instead of giving a light daily sprinkle. A simple rain gauge takes the guesswork out.

6. Prune by bloom time

   Prune spring-flowering shrubs such as lilac and forsythia right after they finish blooming, since they set next year's buds in summer. Most summer-flowering shrubs can be pruned in late winter or early spring while dormant. Avoid heavy pruning in late summer, which pushes tender growth that may not harden off before winter.

7. Put fall leaves to work

   Shredded leaves make a free mulch for beds, and a light layer can be mowed back into the lawn. Before the ground freezes, give evergreens a deep watering if fall has been dry.