OTTUMWA — Spring means the arrival of blooming plants, flowers and manicured lawns.

But these colorful collages of landscaping, gardening and lawncare don’t come without a little hard work and preparation.

Kristy Ostrander, owner of Ostrander Flowers and Greenhouses in Eldon, said now is the time of year when people will have to do the “in/out” gardening.

She said it is not quite warm enough yet to leave a lot of the plants outside overnight, but it is better for the plants to get some of the natural sun during the day.

For the next couple of weeks, Ostrander said local gardenrs could leave some of their plants outside, making sure there is plenty of water and sun, and then bringing the plants back inside so as not to expose the delicate flora to frost.

“I think we are past the last frost but it can come all the way up into May,” she said. “The average date for the last frost is usually May 10.”

Both Judy Polkey, an employee of Ostranders, and Jim Bremer, manager at Earl May Nursery and Garden Center in Ottumwa, said now is the time to get started on cold crops.

“It’s still a little early for the sweet potatoes and tomatoes and the other warm weather plants,” Polkey said.

If these veggies are planted too early they run the risk of the not producing a yield. Bremer said many times if they are planted too early the seeds will die or simply not germinate.

Polkey said any of the “root-crop veggies” can be planted now. There are the vegetables and fruits that grow under ground. The warm crops will most likely be planted in another two weeks or so, Bremer said.

Preparation also includes tilling the ground in order to revive the nutrients and moisture trapped under the dry winter soil.

“Usually you want to till the whole plot about six to eight inches deep,” Bremer said.

But flower and vegetable gardens are not the only green-thumb areas that needed tending to in the springtime.

Bremer said now is the perfect time for people to turn some of those brown spotty areas in the yard to green.

“April is a great time to fertilize your lawn and protect it with a pre-emergent weed control,” he said.