Western Mountains and High Plains
As the soil becomes workable, lift and divide perennials that bloom in summer and fall. If you soil is hard and clayey, add a generous shovelful of compost to the new planting site. This will enhance root regeneration and get the plants off to a strong start. Water new divisions in thoroughly and pot up extras to share with gardening friends.
Plant dahlia tubers indoors
Get a head start on dahlia plants by planting the tuberous roots in one-gallon pots. Use a good potting mixture and grow in a sunny window. Once the plants are up and growing, you can take stem cuttings and root them. Plant outdoors after all danger of frost has passed in your area.
Stagger vegetable plantings
You can enjoy a longer harvest season of cool season veggies if you stagger your sowing times. Plant peas, radishes, spinach, leaf lettuce and beets every few weeks, up to the end of May. Planting smaller batches of crops at different times allows you to harvest longer into the summer.
Pamper bare-root roses
If your bare-root roses are slow to start after they've been planted, give them an extra boost. Place a large, three to five-gallon bucket upside down over the bush. This creates a greenhouse-like environment to pamper them along. Roses will break buds more readily and start to establish roots.
Choose healthy roots
When you decide on a potted shrub or tree, slide the root ball out of the container so you can inspect the roots. Healthy roots are white and vigorous. Avoid waterlogged soil mixes with the stench of swamp, or root balls with little or no signs of root growth.