I always start early cleaning the beds. It has never seemed to hurt anything. As for your bushes, I'm sure it's ok to cut them back now too.

Oh Good! Thanks for answering my question. I was hoping I would get an answer tonight so I could plan my day tomorrow. I am out the door in the morning to do my cleanup! Thanks again.

Yeah, definitely cut back the butterfly bushes now. I did mine a week or two ago, because last year, I waited too long, and I robbed the bushes of lots of energy that had already been spent on sending sap up the old branches. Butterfly bushes can use hard pruning -- down to about 12" from the ground. But you can't wait too long to do it!

I'm still waiting on pruning my roses a few more weeks. I've heard the rule that you prune your roses when the Forsythia blooms. I may do it sooner, though. Just not in February like I do with my butterfly bushes and fruit trees.

I spent part of the weekend cleaning my beds, cutting back decorative grasses and other plants, pulling baby weeds, pulling up invading grass. It felt great! I plan to continue today and tomorrow and be done with the spring clean up. I may even trim back the roses, given the temps forecasted for upper 50s/low 60s this week.

I'm hoping that getting an early start on weeds and extraneous grass will help keep those under control this year. Call me a cock-eyed optimist! :)