Now that the sun is finally beginning to shine a little longer and our days are getting a bit warmer (I said a bit, not a LOT warmer yet), we wanted to remind you of some simple spring time maintenance activities to help preserve the effectiveness and beauty of your raingarden.  You should try and complete the following by Memorial Day, but if you see those weeds popping up early get ’em!

Mulch:
Apply new mulch in areas that are thin to maintain a 3″ layer across the garden.  This will help to deter weed growth and hold in moisture (just in case we have another dry year!).

Cut Last Year’s Growth:  
Remove last year’s growth in the spring before new growth emerges to ensure vigorous and uninhibited growth.  All removed material may be composted.

Inspection:
Prior to the growing season, check all drainage ways (downspouts, underground pipes, and grates) to make sure they are unobstructed and allow water to easily enter the garden basin.  Remove any trash, sediment, or excess leaves that may have accumulated in the garden.

Pull Weeds:
Cool-season weeds (dandelions, thistle) sprout and set seed by Memorial Day during a year with normal spring temperatures.  It is imperative that they are pulled prior to setting seed.  The longer they persist, the more established the weed population will become.  Avoid using herbicides to remove weeds as this often results in harm to desirable garden plants.

Metro Blooms’ complete Raingarden Maintenance Guide can be accessed on our website and highlights the essential maintenance tasks for every season.  The guide is meant to remind you that there are little things to pay attention to in the short term so that you have a high-performing product for the long term.