Landscape pros urge careful pruning, mulching and smart watering as spring arrives

Two landscape experts participating in the Utah Division of Water Resources webinar offered practical early‑spring guidance for homeowners preparing water‑wise landscapes.

"Prune out the dead material from the herbaceous perennials," said Wes, a landscape professional with USU Extension in Wasatch County, who recommended removing winter dead material so new growth can emerge and urged homeowners not to till wet soil (use a hand ball test to check moisture before tilling).

Wes also recommended spring soil sampling to check nutrient status and using mulch to suppress annual weed germination and conserve soil moisture.

Brian from the Washington County Water Conservancy District, speaking for southern Utah conditions, said winter annuals such as mustards and bromes germinated earlier this year and that homeowners should hand‑pull seedheads before seeds enter the soil seed bank. "Pull them out, throw them away," he said, emphasizing that leaving mature seedheads will increase next year’s weed pressure.

Brian recommended conservative lawn watering during the current warm spell — generally about once per week in the region, and perhaps twice weekly during heat spikes — and urged residents to use smart irrigation controllers where possible to reduce overwatering. He also recommended planting tender perennials in spring rather than fall in some southern areas to give plants a full growing season before winter.

Both speakers stressed context matters: watering frequency depends on soil type, exposure and irrigation method. Wes recommended mulch and avoiding tilling when soil is too wet, and Brian suggested smart controllers and attention to local frost risk when planting frost‑sensitive species.

The experts said these practices support plant establishment while conserving water and minimizing maintenance this year.