From 70 Degree Days To Winter Weather Advisories, Beware the False Spring, Says UN Extension

David Lott provides this information about the seemingly annual "false spring" in North Central Nebraska.

Warmer weather and longer days are starting to show up, giving so many of us hope and

excitement for the new growing season. Beware of "False Spring", where the warm days can be

followed by cold snaps and potential spring blizzards that will visit the region at some point in

March and April. Here are some tips to consider now, and through mid-April on gardening

related jobs in our very uncertain weather.

• Now is a great time to sharpen lawn mower blades and service mower engines so they are

good working order for when the mowing begins for the growing season.

• Do not mow bluegrass or tall fescue lawns until they have broken dormancy and are

greening up for the season, usually around mid-April. Remember to keep the mower

height at 3 inches tall for the mowing season and remove no more than 1/3 of the grass in

one mowing, leaving 2/3 of the grass intact to grow back.

• Clean up garden tools that have been in winter storage. Now is a great time to remove

rust from tools and lubricate them as needed so they are ready for the gardening season.

• Do not clean dead plant material and mulch out of flower beds and gardens spots. This

dead material may look unsightly to some, but they serve as a protective buffer for tender,

emerging perennial plants that are starting to peak out from under the layers. This

protective layer also serves as a home for many beneficial landscape insects for the

winter. Leave this layer intact until mid-April in Western Nebraska.

• Wait to prune rose canes and dead landscape plant stems until mid-April. Early pruning

can initiate early, tender plant growth that can be severely damaged or killed during

future cold snaps.

• When pruning landscape plant stems back in mid-April, leave eight inches of dead stem

behind for pollinating insects to use as a habitat for the next generation of native bee

species as a natural "bee hotel" to improve pollinator insects in landscapes and gardens.

New growth from plants will "hide" these stems from view.

• Rose canes can be pruned back in mid-April at a 45-degree angle on the cane. Prune dead

cane material back to where new growth is present.

If anyone has any questions about "False Spring" please send an email to dlott2@unl.edu, call the Extension Office in North Platte at (308) 532-2683.