I started clearing Winter debris from flower beds, this morning

[Siwsan]

The weather is perfect, sunny and heading towards 70. Unfortunately, tomorrow will be in the 40's and rainy and not much improvement in the 10 day forecast.

I managed to stuff full 2 yard waste bags and am considering doing more, but since yard waste collection doesn't start until April, I'm going to pace myself.

Later I'm going to take a 'tour of the estate', as my dad used to say. I see a lot of smallish limbs on the ground in the back lot AND a couple sections of the fence needs repairing. I should just take the whole thing down and turn the posts into raised garden beds. Something to think about, anyway. Meanwhile I'll try to figure out a way to do a temporary, aesthetic repair.

I know it's not quite Spring, but I LOVE Springish days like this.

[efhmc]

1. Still clearing dead stuff from the recent frosts in Texas.

Luckily I have two places I can take the debris. One is a yard where we can take organic materials and is supported by our local taxes. Perhaps there is one where you can take such things even if you have to do it yourself. Good luck.

[Alsteen]

2. not time yet

Bugs and insects overwinter in the debris and you could be dumping all the beneficial insects right into the trash if you clean up to early. Best to wait until the weather is truly spring-like before cleaning up. Oh, Compost bins are the new black!

[Siwsan]

3. Still LOTS and LOTS of gardens that are untouched.

There are more than 10 flower/veg beds on this property. This is a corner lot and the east side faces the street so I like to get it tidied up. I had a big passion plant that I failed to take down, last year, and a whole lot of milk week stalks that were beyond unsightly. And it's the new location for the feral's food bowls so I wanted to get that area cleaned up so the soil can start to dry. It's where I will be putting the 'I hope they will use it' shelter. There are some big shrubs on the N/E corner that will give them a feeling of being hidden.

I never rake the back lot so there are LOTS of fallen leaves, etc, AND YET still another flower garden for insects. I have a couple little brush piles that I just let stay, that makes great shelter.

[spinbaby]

4. I planted pansies this morning

And turned over one of my compost piles to get at some of the good stuff to put under them. I have a general rule that each annual gets a trowel full of sifted compost when it’s planted.

[WhiteTara]

5. don't forget little creatures are still

using a lot of that debris as homes and shelters from the storm, so don't be too hasty. Keep surveying for awhile.

[Siwsan]

6. Trust me - there's PLENTY of untidied garden space

I never rake leaves, and the back lot has 5 big trees. I clean up this garden simply for aesthetic reasons since it's the one most visible to the road and neighbors. And when I checked it out, the other day, I realized I hardly made a DENT in things.

[WhiteTara]

7. I understand!

When you said how many bags, I was thinking of a small lot that was getting very clean!

[Siwsan]

8. I have a double lot with around a dozen flower beds of varying sizes

That one, in particular, has Day Lilies that leave a LOT of debris. During the Spring there are lots of Daffodils and Narcissus so those sprouting plants need to be uncovered. Once they really start to grow, it's too late to rake without damaging the greens.

[Emile]

9. High today here is 43 and windy. I need to trim my sedum plants of

last year blooms. New growth has started at the base.

[Siwsan]

10. It's going to warm up a little bit, here, tomorrow

I was thinking the same thing about my sedums.

My Daffs, Tulips and Narcissus are all popping up. I need to check the Hyacinth and other Spring blooms.

The Daffs are in full bud, in front of the house (south facing) and I hope will be blooming by Easter.