- Finish planting bareroot stock such as roses, raspberries, asparagus, and fruit trees
- Keep transplanting and dividing late summer and fall-blooming perennials
- Plant containers with frost-resistant varieties
- Plant trees, shrubs, and perennials
- Finish pruning and fertilizing roses
- Prune hydrangeas and scratch in an acid-loving fertilizer to promote bloom
- Topdress winter damaged broad-leaved evergreens with compost and a bit of acid-loving fertilizer to promote strong new growth
- Scratch in bulb fertilizer around bulbs as bloom fades
- Deadhead tulips, daffodils, and grape hyacinths
- Snowdrops and Winter Aconites can be lifted and divided while “in the green” – with foliage intact
- Make notes about where to add more bulbs next fall
- Weed out cool-season weeds when you spot them – do not let them go to seed
- Plant early vegetables such as lettuce, greens, kale, chard, and herbs
- Edge beds with a half-moon edger, creating broad curves or straight lines depending on your style
- Begin mulching in early May when soil is starting to warm up to help preserve moisture and suppress weed seeds
- Set up peony hoops or stakes early to keep these beautiful plants upright
- Remove winter deer protection – fencing, garlic clips, or burlap – around May 1