How soon am I able to turn over my garden?

That is a great question. The best time to prepare your garden's growing medium is in the late fall. Adding leaf compost adn last seasons dieback will allow nutrients to be plentiful for spring. The soil will be ready in the spring for your annuals or vegetables.

 

When is the best time of year to cut ornamental grasses from my garden? Fall or early spring?

Thanks for the question. There are a couple of options. If you want some winter character in your landscape, you can leave the grasses alone and enjoy some texture in your garden throughout the winter. If you feel spring will be the best cut them down in mid to late March. Use caution: do not cut any lower than 6 inches from the ground. If you cut them too low you may hurt the new growth coming from the base of the plant.