Are you ready? Spring is just around the corner and February is a great time to start getting the yard ready for beautiful color and growth. Here is a quick check list of what I am doing this month (February): Cleaning up leaves and debris in the yard. Most of this was cleaned up in the fall, but there are still a few lingering issues. Putting down my pre-emergent weed control in my shrub beds (not my perennial beds.) Cutting all my ornamental grasses down to 6" above the ground. Later in the month I will be pruning back my roses. I will begin to lightly selective prune my crape myrtles. Late in the month I will be putting pre-emergent weed control in the lawn areas. Cleaning up and removing old dead tops on any old perennials such as Hostas and Daylillies. I will be adding mulch to my shrub beds. Pine straw, hardwood, and pine bark are also very common mulches to use. What I will NOT be doing: I will not be cutting back or hat racking my Crape Myrtles. I am not burning my yard. I won't be pruning azaleas or any other blooming plants. Preparation is the key to low maintenance. The items I do now will save me time later this summer and help create a beautiful looking yard.