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Planters' Choice Weekly Picks March 27th 2026
Happy First Day of Spring!
It’s official spring has arrived! The equinox says so, the days are getting longer, and landscapers everywhere just felt their phones start buzzing. Whether the weather agrees or not, the season has begun—and there’s work to be done!
You can see the signs all around: buds swelling on trees, grass pretending it wants to grow, and clients suddenly noticing their yards again. Birds are back, mud is everywhere, and winter debris has somehow multiplied since last fall.
For landscapers, the first day of spring means one thing: game on. Equipment is coming out of hibernation, schedules are filling fast, and every property needs just a little something—a cleanup, a trim, a fresh edge, or a full makeover. Coffee consumption increases. Patience decreases.
Spring doesn’t roll in all at once. It arrives in stages—one cold morning, one warm afternoon, one “wait… is it snowing?” moment at a time. But before you know it, everything is growing, everyone wants it done yesterday, and your boots may never fully dry again.
From all of us at Planters’ Choice, we want to start 2026 by saying thank you. Thank you for trusting us with your gardens, for sharing your passion for plants, and for being part of our family Every year, we’re inspired by the creativity, care, and joy that our customers bring to their landscape, and we feel so lucky to be part of that journey with you.
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The Right Cuts at the Right Time: Early Spring Pruning Tips
A little thoughtful pruning goes a long way toward keeping your trees and shrubs healthy and attractive. Start by removing any branches that are dead, damaged, diseased, dying, or disfigured. Eliminating these problem areas improves overall plant health and helps prevent the spread of disease. Next, look for crossing or rubbing branches. When two branches compete for space, remove the weaker or poorly positioned one. This improves air circulation and reduces the chance of wounds that invite pests and disease. Be sure to also practice targeted thinning. Remove most of the vigorous vertical shoots known as water sprouts (which grow straight up from trunks or branches) and suckers (shoots that emerge from the base or roots). These shoots divert energy from the main structure of the plant. Finally, use proper cutting techniques. Make clean cuts just above a node or leaf junction at a 45-degree angle. When removing an entire branch, cut back to a quarter inch back from the branch collar—the slightly swollen area where the branch meets the trunk or a larger limb. Proper cuts heal more efficiently and support long-term plant health.
Spring and Summer Bloomers that flower on old wood (including Forsythia, Syringa, Rhododendron, Hibscus syriacus, and many Hydrangea macrophylla) should not be pruned now. They set their flower buds on last year’s growth, and pruning too early will remove this season’s blooms. Instead, wait until they’ve finished flowering before shaping them.
Many compound-leaved trees, as well as Maples are "bleeders". There are plenty of lists available, but if you're unsure and make a cut, and you see sap flowing within a couple of minutes, it's best to wait until late May or early June. A big caveat, though: if the tree is susceptible to borers, pruning requires extra attention because it creates an open wound.
Summer Bloomers that flower on new wood (such as Hydrangea paniculata, Hydrangea arborescens, Clethra alnifolia, and Buddleia) should be pruned in early spring, just before they break dormancy. A spring trim encourages strong stems and abundant blooms. Note that Hydrangea paniculata can be trimmed again in late May, then every few weeks as long as one wishes if a later bloom is desired. This is a neat trick if there's a party at your client's house-they will flower about 5 weeks after the last trim.
Ornamental Grasses benefit from a hard cutback in late winter or early spring. Trim them down to about 3–4 inches above the ground to make way for fresh new growth. For evergreen grasses and grasslike plants(Carex, Liriope, Mondo Grass, etc), it's far easier to do them asap since many are cool-season grasses and they will start pushing new growth very soon.
A little patience and proper timing will reward you with a season full of beautiful blooms!
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Early Season Mistakes to Avoid
As the weather begins to warm up, it’s tempting to jump right into spring landscaping — but starting too early is one of the most common mistakes we see. A few warm days in March or April don’t mean winter is finished, and pruning or planting too soon can expose tender growth to frost damage. Be cautious about cutting back perennials too early or planting annuals before the danger of frost has passed. It’s also wise to remove winter mulch gradually rather than all at once, especially if we’re still experiencing chilly nights.
Mulching is another area where a little restraint goes a long way. While fresh mulch can make beds look neat and finished, piling it too high — especially against trunks or stems — can cause rot and invite pests. A two- to three-inch layer is plenty, and mulch should always be kept a few inches away from stems and trunks. It’s also important to pay attention to soil conditions before working your beds. If the soil is still wet and sticks heavily to your shovel, it’s best to wait. Working overly saturated soil can lead to compaction, which limits root growth and drainage all season long.
Applying too much fertilizer — especially on lawns — can encourage excessive top growth at the expense of strong root development. Patience pays off here. Established trees and shrubs should only be fertilized with a heavy Nitrogen feed if a comprehensive maintenance plan is scheduled.
At the same time, don’t overlook cleanup. Removing old, diseased foliage from around perennials and roses helps prevent problems from carrying over into the new season. Be sure to clean up fallen fruit beneath trees and sanitize pruners between plants to limit the spread of disease.
Early spring is also a good time to assess winter damage before making big decisions. Check trees for frost cracks, inspect shrubs for rabbit or vole damage near the base, and use a simple scratch test to determine whether branches are truly dead before pruning them out. When it comes to weed prevention, timing matters as well. Pre-emergent crabgrass control should be applied when soil temperatures consistently reach about 50–55 degrees — often mid-to-late April in our area, depending on the season.
Finally, don’t forget about your evergreens. Broadleaf varieties like Ilex crenata can show signs of winter burn as temperatures fluctuate. Once new growth begins, you can prune out any browned tips, when winters are dry, a deep watering can help them recover. While pruning, it's a great chance to remove excessive twiggy growth. When someone properly prunes a hedge, it should pass the "brush test." Brush your hand over the top of the plants and ensure there isn't excessive resistance. If there is, it likely means more twiggy growth should be removed, and early spring is the ideal time to do it.
Taking a thoughtful, measured approach early in the season helps set your landscape up for a healthier, more successful year ahead! We're here with you every step of the way, and gorw the plants we sell. Please don't hesitate to reach out with questions!
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INCOMING!!!!
"3½ weeks. Countless trips. Tons of dirt. All for you. Here are the freshest, dug-up trees of 2026. Call for size, price, and availability—because these beauties won’t stick around for long!"
Container fruit trees:
Apples, Cherries, Plums, Peaches and Pears
Deciduous Trees:
Dogwood, Redbud, Nyssa, Maple, Flowering Cherries, Oaks, Magnolia, Stewardia, Weeping Willow....Just to name a few!
Evergreens: Juniper chin, Juniper scop, Juniper virg, Chamaecyparis,
Shrubs:
"FYI: our homegrown shrubs and perennials didn’t make the list because they’re already living their best life in our hoop houses. Translation: we’re ready for you, like, superhero-level ready."
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