How to Prep Native Gardens for Spring

Outdoor temperatures are rising, and with them our gardening spirits!

Spring weather draws us into our landscapes and inspires new design ideas. While it’s not quite outdoor lounging season, there’s a lot you can do now to keep your gardens looking their best and improve plant health. Use this eco-friendly list to prepare native gardens for the warmer months ahead.

Our Land Organics Earth Steward Crew Leader Abby Alexander tending to a client’s garden in early spring 2024

Clean out garden beds.
Thick layers of mulch and organic debris (such as fallen leaves) can make it harder for plants to put out new growth. It’s ideal to leave a light layer of these materials in between plants, but go ahead and thin out densely packed mulch and other organic matter. Leaving some organic matter in place while temps are still fluctuating will also serve the butterflies and other beneficial insects who overwinter under organic debris.

Give plants a “haircut” (only when it’s warm enough).
Spring is a great time to cut back old growth to make way for new greenery. But don’t chop back plants too soon. Many pollinators and other beneficial insects overwinter in the hollow stalks and stems of native plants, so cutting back plants too soon can imperil their survival.

A general rule of thumb is to wait until daytime temperatures have consistently topped 50° Fahrenheit for a week or so; this gives beneficial insects time to emerge safely. If you need to cut back plants sooner than that, you can leave the cut material on the ground so it continues to provide habitat.

Once temperatures have warmed up, go ahead and chop back old growth to approximately 4” above the plant’s crown. Also cut back any plant material that has flopped onto paths or sidewalks, as this can pose a tripping hazard.

Pull weeds.
Early spring is a great time for everyone’s favorite activity: weeding! Many weeds emerge before spring gets underway in an effort to out-compete native plants. Stop them in their tracks by pulling weeds now. Common culprits at this time of year include chickweed, garlic mustard, hairy bittercress, henbit, and more.

A note of caution: Make sure you can tell the difference between native seedlings and spring weeds so you don’t accidentally remove natives. This guide from Grow Native! can help.

Prune selectively.
Some woody shrubs can be pruned in early spring, but practice restraint. As a general rule, spring-blooming shrubs shouldn’t be pruned until after they’re done flowering. (This list includes Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Mountain Laurel, and Magnolia.) Shrubs that bloom later in the year can be lightly pruned in spring.

Wait to prune until the risk of hard frost has passed. Then, use clean pruners to trim dead, dying, or criss-crossed branches to maximize plant health.

Prepare new beds for fall planting.
If you intend to plant new gardens in the fall and the beds are covered in grass, now is a good time to apply sheet mulch or lay down solarizing materials to start killing the grass and weeds.

This process can take several months, so starting now will help you have a proper planting space come fall. For guidance, check out our blog post about sheet mulching versus solarization.

An Our Land Organics hardscape installation

Inspect your hardscaping.
Take a close look at any hardscaping on your property to assess its post-winter condition. Check for signs of frost heave in stonework, assess whether your deck or patio are in need of repairs, and so on. Resolving minor issues now will prevent them from becoming bigger problems later.

Take stock of your tools.
It’s a good idea to assess all your gardening tools before the season is fully underway. Clean, sharpen, and replace lost or damaged tools now so you have the right gear at your disposal when you need it later in the season.

If you don’t already compost, consider starting.
A compost area is an incredible resource for your garden. It provides nutrient-rich organic matter that can enhance the health of your soil, and it allows you to dispose of yard waste (such as grass trimmings and woody prunings) in an eco-friendly way. Instead of taking up space in a landfill, these materials can be used to feed native gardens, which then support pollinators and wildlife. It’s a win-win-win for people, plants, and other living creatures!

Start planning for spring and summer plantings.
Early spring is a great time to plant trees and shrubs, while herbaceous perennials can be planted later in the spring and early summer. Once your native gardens start to flesh out in the spring, assess whether there are any gaps in need of plants or other opportunities to enhance your garden with new plantings.

Identify the “right plant for the right place” based on light and soil conditions. The Nursery at Our Land Organics won’t open until July, but you can peruse our online shop now for inspiration. And our professional designers are happy to help you create a functional and beautiful native garden design any time of the year.


If this to-do list feels a little overwhelming, we can help! Our experienced Earth Stewards can take the work off your hands and wake up your gardens using eco-friendly approaches. We also offer several Organic Landscape Maintenance Packages to help tend to your land year-round. Contact us to learn more or schedule maintenance.