It is finally beginning to warm up and the first signs of spring can be seen around town. Depending upon the area of town you are in, you may notice bulbs coming up and even starting to bud. I often have customers asking if it is too early for their bulbs to be coming up and if they should do something to stop it. The answer is no, Mother Nature has her own schedule and we can't stop it. In fact, March is generally the month that all plants begin to come out of dormancy and although the signs are not always obvious to us that they are waking up, it is a crucial time for our plants.

 As daytime temperatures rise, sap begins to run from the root system back up the stems of the trees and shrubs. It is imperative that the plants receive adequate watering at this time. Many people may not think to water when the trees still look dormant and their irrigation systems are not turned on; however, watering is the only thing that will protect our plants from the fluctuating temperatures.