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Lawns and gardens can bear the brunt of winter weather and are often in need of tender loving care by the time spring arrives. Preparing a garden for spring and sum- mer involves assessing any damage that harsh weather might have caused. As temperatures climb, gardeners can heed the following post-winter garden preparation tips in an effort to ensure some successful gardening in the months ahead. ■ Assess the damage. Even if winter was mild, gardens might still have suffered some damage. Inspect garden beds and any fencing or barriers designed to keep wildlife from getting into the garden. Before planting anew, fix any damage that Mother Nature or local wildlife might have caused over the past several months. ■ Clear out debris. Garden beds and surrounding landscapes that survived win- ter without being damaged might still be littered with debris. Remove fallen leaves, branches and even litter that blew about on windy winter days before planting season. Make sure to discard any debris effectively so it does not find its way back into the gar- den. ■ Turn the greenhouse into a clean house. Spring-cleaning is not just for the interior of a home. Cleaning a greenhouse in advance of spring can help gardeners evict any over-wintering pests that can threaten plant life once spring gardening season arrives. A thorough cleaning, which should include cleaning the inside of greenhouse glass and washing flower pots and plant trays, also can prevent plant dis- eases from surviving into spring. ■ Check for pests: Speak with a local gardening professional to determine if there are any local pests to look out for and how to recognize and remove these pets from gardens. Pests may hibernate in the soil over the winter, and such unwelcome visitors can make it difficult for gardens to thrive come spring and summer. ■ Assess plant location: If plants, flow- ers or gardens have struggled in recent years or never grew especially vibrant, then gardeners may want to assess the loca- tion of their plant life before spring gar- dening season begins. Some plants may not be getting enough sunlight in certain loca- tions on a property, while others might be overexposed to the sun during spring and summer. Moving plants that are not thriv- ing prior to the start of spring gardening season may be just what gardens need to flourish in the coming weeks. Spring gardening season is right around the corner, so now is an ideal time to pre- pare gardens for the warmer seasons ahead. Select Carpet, Laminate, and Vinyl Floors on SALE! Carpet Padding Installation ✔ ✔ ✔ ONE LOW PRICE! 1596 E. North St. Hwy F • 262-544-9022 • www.carpetsandvinyl.com 254816003 HOMES PLUS APRIL 2017 14 Assess damage from winter, pests when prepping garden for spring Submitted photo Check whether your plants are in the right location before warmer weather arrives. Keep in mind that trees and other plant growth can require moving flowers and vegetables.

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