Greetings, Martie!

First and foremost, welcome to Ohio! We are happy that you have found the Ask an Expert/ Ask a Master Gardener site! We will happily provide as much gardening advice as you need. Please feel free to contact us any time.

A personal note: I moved to Ohio from another part of the country, so I understand how difficult it can be to become accustomed to a new environment. I hope I answer your questions thoroughly, but if you need more info or clarification, you can respond on this thread.

I have divided your question into three parts: Flower Bed Cleanup, Mulching, and Lawn Fertilization & Weed Control.

Flower Bed Cleanup

Your first question was when to cleanup your flower beds. In Ohio, most gardeners choose to do the majority of garden cleanup in the spring rather than fall. This helps to protect the pollinators and other beneficials that overwinter in gardens. (There are some tasks that are exceptions and should be done in the fall. See the articles provided below.) You will know that the time is right to begin your spring cleanup when the temperature is above 50 degrees for 4 or more days in a row. Lightly rake up and remove dead leaves, last season’s mulch & debris, then remove any weeds that have appeared. If your soil needs to be improved, you can amend it by working in manure, compost or both. At this point if your budget and preferences allow, you can apply a preemergent.

A preemergent, which can be liquid or granules, will inhibit the germination of seeds/weeds in your garden for a period of 3-4 months. Not all gardeners choose to use a preemergent. The choice is yours. I have included some articles following to help you decide. There are several brands available: Preen, MiracleGro and Bayer to name a few.* Personally, I prefer to use one that has a corn gluten base, because it is said to break down and add to the soil structure. All brands are considered safe, when used according to package directions. Some contain added nutrients (fertilizer). My personal method is to apply preemergent granules 1) before and after I mulch, 2) whenever I disturb the soil by planting, digging or weeding (just a little sprinkle) and 3) again in the fall. (Tip: I use a recycled parmesan cheese container, an oversized one from the warehouse club, to apply.) I purchase preemergent in large quantities at garden centers, warehouse stores or big box store … whoever has the best price. Some will even ship to your home.

Using a preemergent makes my weeding a much, much more manageable task. Here are some articles if you would like to read more about preemergent: https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/1994/4-27-1994/weeds.html

https://bygl.osu.edu/node/1457

And here are some articles if you would like more detailed information about spring/fall garden cleanup.

Spring Garden Cleanup Article:

https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/garden-scoop/2021-02-26-spring-garden-cleanup

Fall Garden Cleanup Articles:

https://bygl.osu.edu/node/626

https://www.cleveland.com/living/2019/10/putting-your-garden-to-bed-so-it-will-wake-up-refreshed-next-spring-ne-ohio-gardening.html

Mulch Application

Mulch, when correctly chosen and applied, can help keep weeds at bay. Quality mulch has the added benefit of decomposing which adds to the quality of your soil. There are many varieties of mulch including hardwood, straw, pine, sawdust and rubber. Wood is most commonly used, and often has color added for decorative effect. For my gardens, I select a triple shredded hardwood mulch from a reputable supplier. I like its appearance, and I like that it decomposes readily, adding nutrients and structure to my soil. You might prefer another option.

The time to apply the mulch is after the soil has had a chance to warm and to dry out somewhat. This varies from year to year, but a general guideline is late April to late May for Geauga County. In the fall, a general guideline is to mulch “as the leaves fall”. Again, be sure that the soil is not too wet, and apply after you have removed annual plants as well as any diseased plants. A light raking of your previously applied mulch, and removal of large pieces is recommended. The following articles give more in-depth information if you are interested.

“Avoid the Temptation to Mulch Too Early”. https://fairfield.osu.edu/news/we-all-love-mulch-take-care-not-misuse-it

Ohio State University Fact Sheet: Short, informative article on when and how to mulch gardens in Ohio. https://www.therockpile.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/OSU_mulch.pdf

Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control

Full disclosure: turf care is not my long suit, so I turned to an article by Ohio experts Scott Zornan, Jim Chatfield & Dave Gardner for assistance. The article I used for reference is authored by them, and there is a link to it below. I highly recommend the article. Please let me know if you need further help, and I will turn your question over to another expert.

April 1-15 Apply a slow release fertilizer with crabgrass control.

May 15-30 Apply a second optional fertilizer with broad leaf weed control on wet grass. If grubs are an issue, apply grub control at this time, too.

September 1 Apply fertilizer

Around November 1 Apply a fertilizer with a high nitrogen level

Information gleaned from this article https://bygl.osu.edu/node/1552

One last bit of information. There is an absolutely excellent newsletter, Buckeye Yard and Garden Line or BYGL (pronounce it beagle), that is chock full of timely articles for Ohio gardeners and homeowners. It is easy to read, often amusing and very well written. If you subscribe to it (at no charge) you will receive one email a week. If you prefer, you can go to the site to access the newsletters. The site also has a search option for many yard or garden topics. It is run by the Ohio State University Extension office, and is a free (non-profit) service for all Ohio residents.

I hope I answered your questions. Please don’t hesitate to respond to this thread if you need clarification or more information. Best of luck in your Ohio gardens and lawns. Spring is almost here!!

*Where trade names are used, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Ohio State University Extension is implied.

Hi, Martie!

Your response did reach me. I'm happy it was of help to you.

Please keep us in mind if you have questions in the future. Happy gardening!