Flower/Landscape Gardens
- Continue to deadhead Pansies regularly to prevent seed formation and promote flower production. Liquid feed pansies with fish emulsion weekly.
- Set over-wintered Canna rhizomes outside in a protected location.
- Divide and re-plant summer and fall flowering perennials and ground covers when new growth reaches three to four inches.
- Apply a thin band of dried blood around rabbit susceptible plants like Liatris, Phlox, Tulips and Lilies.
- Fertilize bulbs with bone meal scratched into the soil surface at the base of the bulbs.
- Remove spent flowers from early blooming bulbs, but leave the foliage! Allow the leaves to ‘ripen’ (turn yellow) before removal. This will allow the bulbs to store nourishment needed for a good bloom next year.
- Take pictures of perennial blooming bulbs. This will make it easier to remember where they are located and to color coordinate spring plantings.
- Apply deer repellents regularly after rain, especially to emerging bulbs such as Tulips and Lilies.
- Prune Roses as leaves begin to appear, then fertilize with Rose Tone or another organic product, refer to detailed Rose pruning and fertilization instructions.
- Prune off any winter die-back and apply compost to Rhododendrons, Hollies, Dogwoods and evergreens.
- Fertilize Azaleas after they finish blooming. Prune only when necessary to shape plants and remove dead branches.
- Prune shrubs with gray buds such as Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii), Blue Mist Spirea (Caryopteris clandonensis), Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia), and Wormwood (Artemesia spp.) after new growth has just begun to elongate.
- To prevent animal browsing place cages around emerging lilies while they are still small and easy to work with.
- Install Paeony cages or hoops while the shoots are between one and six inches tall, before flower buds begin to elongate and enlarge.
- Train vines such as Clematis for desired growth throughout the summer.
- Prepare pots for summer container gardens.
Inside
- Trim and feed houseplants with a water soluble fertilizer as they begin to grow.
Vegetable Gardens and Fruit Trees
- If you have not already begun, apply a layer of compost to your vegetable garden.
- Try not to walk on prepared beds. Use stepping stones or lay a board down temporarily.
- Plant early crops such as onions, peas, lettuce, spinach, radishes, and herbs such as dill.
- Transplant tomato and pepper seedlings outdoors after they get their second set of leaves. Protect from freezing night time temperatures.
Pests
- Pull cool–season weeds like Chickweed, Harry Bittercress and Dandelions before they flower and produce seeds. Once seeds have formed and dropped into the soil, a seed bank has been created that can last a lifetime.
- Check trees, especially fruit and small ornamental trees, for nests of tent caterpillars. Use a strong spray of water or a stick to dislodge nests.
- Check boxwood leaves for small blotches caused by feeding larvae of Boxwood Leaf Miner. Adult Leaf Miners are small, gnat-like and orange. Treat these pests with insecticidal soap. Leaves that are cupped are caused by Psyllids. Treat with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap.
- Check black, red, mugo and scotch pines for European Pine Saw Caterpillars. Handpick light infestations and kill the caterpillars.
- Check broad leaved evergreens for Southern Red Mites which cause the shrubs to lose color and drop leaves. Treat with horticultural oil.
Call DESIGNS FOR GREENER GARDENS at 410-626-6122 to help you with your April garden needs!
