Start by clearing your garden beds of debris, old mulch and adding nutrients. Fertilize your lawn and trees to promote healthy growth. Don’t forget to apply new mulch to retain moisture, reduce weeds and protect plant roots.

Most of Kentucky is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6, but Louisville lies on the border between Zones 6b and 7a. Knowing your zone helps you determine the average dates for the first fall frost and the last spring frost. While these dates are averages, they give you a reliable target for planting and protecting your garden. Knowing the zone also helps you pick the correct plants that can thrive in your garden. 

Unfortunately, just because you like a certain plant doesn’t mean it will work in your desired location. Selecting the right plant for each garden location is essential, especially considering sunlight. Plants have specific light needs, with some thriving in full sun and others in shade. 

Now’s the time to plant vegetables like cucumbers, beets, lettuce, broccoli, spinach, carrots, potatoes, raspberries, and various herbs.

Focus on pruning summer-blooming shrubs to encourage new growth and blooms. Key varieties to prune include:

Hydrangeas (panicle and wild types), butterfly bushes, dogwoods, forsythia, spirea, rose of sharon, magnolia, fuchsia, holly, viburnum, and clematis.

When do I prune my hydrangea?

• Macrophylla (Big Leaf) Hydrangea: Prune in late summer, but avoid heavy pruning—just remove old, dead wood. (Maybe Use a Picture for an example – Endless Summer)
• Panicle Hydrangeas: Prune in late fall or early spring. These shrubs can handle a more aggressive pruning and will regrow with ease. (Maybe Use a Picture for an example – Limelight)

If you’re looking to add fast-growing greenery to your landscape, consider these varieties:

Green Giants, Arborvitae, Leyland Cypress, and Juniper.