March came in like a lion and went out like one, too. Maybe the lamb-like weather will show up in April. I know that I’m ready for some soft spring weather so, without further ado, here’s your April to-do list.
§ Pick a bouquet of spring flowers and bring them inside to enjoy. While you’re at it, spread a little sunshine and pick one for a neighbor, too.
§ Force branches of flowering shrubs and fruit trees to bloom indoors. Cut some branches and put them in warm water and they’ll bloom in no time.
§ Prune your forsythia when it finishes blooming. It begins setting buds for next year’s flowers right away. If you prune too late in the season you prune off next year’s flower buds. Same thing goes for any other early spring bloomers, too, like lilac.
§ If you had your young trees wrapped for winter remove it now. Let the bark adjust to the elements. The majority of sunscald occurs during the winter on very young, smooth- barked trees. Freezing night temps and sun heating up the bark during the day cause cells inside the trunk to expand and contract. This causes the bark to split on the south and/or west side of the tree. When the trees begin to get their mature bark, after a couple of years, the worry about sunscald is minimized.
§ If you’ve had billbug problems in the past, you might consider applying grub control about midmonth. If you’re putting in a new lawn consider a turf type fescue. This grass contains a naturally occurring fungus that acts as an insecticide. Plus it’s drought tolerant, and slow growing!
§ Speaking of grass, it’s a great time to seed or overseed your lawn. It’s important to keep the seed moist when germinating. Use a very thin layer of compost over the seed. The dark color will absorb warmth to aid in germination, it will help hold in moisture and it will keep birds from helping themselves to your grass seed.
§ Fertilize spring bulbs as the flowers fade. Remove faded blossoms, but keep the leaves for at least 8 weeks to help feed the bulb for next year.
§ It’s safe to remove mulch from your perennials. Spread it out on your beds or add it to your compost pile.
§ If you don’t now, think about composting. It really doesn’t take up much room and you get really great stuff to put back into your soil. Consider that what we have here on Earth is all we’re going to get. We’re in a closed environment. Recycling nutrients only makes sense when at all possible.
§ Summer bulbs and tubers like dahlias, cannas and gladiolus, that give us such wonderful color, can be planted now. Don’t forget, that they look great in containers, too.
§ Fertilize your asparagus and rhubarb after they emerge.
§ Eat a lot of asparagus and rhubarb. Freeze what you can’t eat now. You’ll be happy to have asparagus with your Thanksgiving dinner.
§ Prune and fertilize your roses. When they show up, wash off aphids with a soap spray or a strong stream of water.
§ Give your trees and shrubs a good deep drink of water.
§ Don’t top a tree or let anyone else top it either. It is an outdated, unsafe practice that is the sure start of a slow, agonizing death for a tree. Trees are your most valuable landscape plants; treat them accordingly.
§ If you haven’t already, you’ll soon be mowing your lawn. Make sure the mower blade is sharp so you don’t shred the tips of the grass, which causes it to have a brown cast.
§ Sharpen other pruning tools, shovels and hoes, too.
§ If you hurry up, it’s not too late to divide summer and fall blooming perennials.
§ Repot your houseplants or add some new soil if they don’t need repotting.
§ Fertilize your perennials. They’ll reward you with healthy blooms later this summer.
§ Don’t forget to harden off transplants before plunking them down outside. Most have been growing in a protected greenhouse.
§ Celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day by planting a tree.
There is a lot more to do, but don’t worry; most will wait until next month. Until then, welcome to spring!
