GARDENING TIPS FOR APRIL

 

The beautiful spring bulbs are out. Enjoy and marvel at the ephemeral beauty and flawless blossoms of the daffodils, tulips and hyacinth.

While you are enjoying the cool temperatures and colors of spring, do not forget that summer is around the corner. Some seeds need to started early especially tomatoes, if you do not intend to have green tomatoes that won't ripen on the vine in the fall.

Cool season vegetables and flowers can go out now. These include the pansies, cole crops, arugula, beets, and spring salad greens.

Seedlings of warm weather crops can be germinated indoors next to a bright window or under fluorescent lights. These need to stay inside till the soil warms up and the danger of frost is over.

If you did not prune off black spot-infected leaves and canes for your rose bushes, you can still do. Do not forget to dip your hand shears in 1:10 concentration of Chlorox® to disinfect your shears between cuts. You should also rake up all fallen leaves around the shrub. these contain the over wintering bodies for the black spot disease.

When the spring bulbs have blossomed, cut back the flowering stalk but let the leaves continue to feed the underground bulb. At this stage, the plants may look unkempt and gangly. You can tie the leaves up in a neat bundle.

Arbor Day falls on April 30, 2010.  Plant a tree to celebrate.