• Gently clean up the garden when you can see it after the snow melts.
• Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs before new growth.
• Cut perennials and over-wintering ornamental grasses to 2 inches above ground.
• Plant cool-season crops (potatoes, lettuce, peas, root crops, and cole crops, including spinach and kale)
• Continue to plan your garden.  Want to grow your own fruits and vegetables?  See http://extension.umd.edu/growit and plan to attend the April 18^th Grow it, Eat it Open House in Derwood at the Farm Park
• The second best time to seed your lawn is from now until April.
• Mulch 2–3 inches high and keep away from tree trunks.

Did you know?

• Earthworms are a sign of healthy soil.
• Maryland State Tree is the White Oak (Quercus alba)
• Maryland State Flower is the Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
• A hot topic is growing natives—Buying native plants with the knowledge of the scientific name and the preferred conditions for the plant is the most successful way to buy native plants.  Here are some sources in Montgomery County of native plants…

• Black Hill Regional Park
  http://www.montgomeryparks.org/nature_centers/blackhill/fobhnp.shtm
  20926 Lake Ridge Dr., Boyds, MD 20841. Their annual native plant sale held by Friends of Black Hill is April 24, 25 and 26^th in 2015.
• Chesapeake Natives at Pope Farm in Gaithersburg, MD
  http://www.chesapeakenatives.org/Chesapeake_Natives/Volunteer_at_Pope_Farm.html
• Stadler Native Plants
  http://www.stadlernativeplants.com/  5504 Mt. Zion Rd., Frederick, MD 21703 (Location of native plant nursery) info@stadlernativeplants.com 301-944-1190 Ext 2 Stadler also has Garden Centers in Laytonsville, MD 20882 and Manassas, Bristow VA 20138. They have native trees, shrubs, perennials, ferns, grasses and aquatic plants; plant list available online; plants may also be ordered and picked.
• White’s Nursery
  http://whites-nursery.com/  22531 Wildcat Rd. Germantown MD 20876 (301) 788-3293  White’s Nursery has a large collection of rhododendrons and azaleas (if you would like to feed the deer population), some native. Check their website for hours and plant sales.
• A note of caution:  ask questions at your nursery/source to ensure that your choices are not invasive species that could spread beyond your garden and cause environmental damage.  For example, English ivy is an invasive plant.  For further information about invasive plants see Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas, a list of invasive plants and native alternatives. http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/midatlantic/toc.htm