Cultivate and remove them now while they are still small and soft.  A general spring cleaning of old leaves and debris helps to show what is going on.  Adding a mulch or compost layer to the beds and around trees now will help regulate soil temperature and conserve water as temperatures start really warming up.

Next, take care of the pruning and shaping of trees and shrubs if you haven’t already.  Fruit trees are pushing new growth and flowering. In most cases now, it’s best to wait until after bloom to complete any thinning, but do take some time now to check for early insect or disease activity.  If you have questions and need some help with identification, come out to the nursery. All of us out here have training and experience to bring success.