Wedel's April News and More

George Wedel

Some years winter just doesn't seem to be willing to move out and let spring enter. Other years see spring rush in and stay. Just this week we've seen spring to summer-like temperatures that really get green thumbers excited about the new growing season. But there is certain to be more cold and crisp days ahead before we finally settle into warm weather.

The warm weather we've had though has begun bringing our landscapes to life. I never tire of the annual spring display of crocus and snowdrops in full bloom, the spikes of green foliage showing through the soil in our tulip and hyacinth beds and early daffodils blooming the last week of March. Wednesday, it seemed that every forsythia shrub in the county burst out in its full golden glory. At our home the blue scillas were just beginning to show color last Saturday; today they are a sight to behold just covering the ground with blue beauty. The scarlet maples are beginning to flower and the lilac buds are swelling and star magnolia flowers just popped open. Yes, the season is early; pray for moderately cool temperatures without any deep freezes till mid-May. Until then enjoy the blooms of spring and enjoy your gardens.

When garden soils are dry enough to be worked, cool weather crops should be planted. Peas, onions, lettuce, spinach, turnips, kale, beets, potatoes, radishes, gladiolus bulbs, sweet peas, poppies and larkspur can all be direct seeded or set out in your garden. If you winterize your roses, hydrangeas and butterfly shrubs by mounding them up with shredded bark or peat, begin uncovering now. If coverings like rose cones were used, remove them on warm, sunny days but be sure to replace them on frosty nights. After you uncover rose, hydrangea and butterfly shrubs, prune all stems back to green wood.

It's time for the first monthly rose feeding. Fertilize roses now with five pounds of composted cow manure and ¾ cup per bush of Espoma organic-based Rose Tone. Use Espoma Rose Tone monthly with the last feeding around August first. This fertilizing program will encourage rose plants to product the best foliage and flowers possible. Since butterfly shrubs bloom on new growth, an early spring feeding now will help the shrub produce more flowers this summer. If hydrangea shrubs were fed last October, no fertilizer is needed now; if not, feed with Espoma Holly Tone in April and June.

This is the "last call" for transplanting most trees and shrubs before new growth begins. Dig plants with as many roots and with as much soil attached as possible. Prune back 20% before lifting plants. Prepare new planting sites properly. Make the new planting hole 50% larger than the root system and fill the hole with a mixture of 1/3 sphagnum peat moss, 1/3 composted cow manure and 1/3 light soil taken from the planting hole. Add to this the appropriate amount (as listed on the container) of Myke mycorrhizae beneficial fungus for root development and to help avoid transplant shock. Remember, transplanting before new growth begins is essential for your plant's move to be successful.

Some attention to our lawns now will reap dividends with a thicker, greener turf this summer. First, do a thorough raking to remove any matted leaves. Then lower the lawn mower setting to just above scalping to cut off dead grass blade tissue and vacuum up any remaining debris. Bare or thin spots should have a light coating of lawn soil raked in with Scotts Starter Fertilizer, add grass seed and water in well.

Now is a good time to check for grubs feeding on roots of grass. Control lawn grubs with Dylox. If you have a flock of black birds constantly pecking at the soil in your yard, chances are they are looking for grubs. Twenty-four hour Dylox Grub Control may be applied now. Immediately after applying Dylox Grub Control, be sure to irrigate with one inch of water or apply just before you expect rain fall.

Lawn fertilizers will not perform as expected if soil pH is too high or low. Lilacs won't bloom as well. Azalea and rhododendron leaves will turn yellow. Blue hydrangea flowers won't be blue and pin oak leaves will be chlorotic. Check lawn, garden and landscape soils every few years to be sure soil pH is correct. Bring a 6x6x6 sod sample or a cup of soil from your flower bed into Wedel's Garden Center for a soil pH test. With purchase, Wedel's will test two soil samples for free.

April is the perfect time to start or add to your fruit garden. Come berry harvest time you too can enjoy raspberries, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, currants and gooseberries from your own garden. "Fresh is best" from your own garden. Plant berry plants this spring for many years of delicious and healthy fruit.

We haven't even begun to scratch the surface of things we can do now. This is the time of year to begin work on new beds and gardens, to do some repair work in our lawns, some preventative maintenance throughout our landscapes and to begin our feeding programs. The work we do now to ensure good growth and disease control during the growing season will yield much healthier and more productive plants which translates into a better and more enjoyable outdoor living area. Come by Wedel's for more ideas and to find everything you need for a beautiful landscape, productive garden and tips on making this 2010 growing season your best yet!