Wait to apply crabgrass preventor. A rule-of-thumb is apply a pre-emergent around mid-May for best results. If you see weed growth near the driveway and walk edges, then it is time to apply.
Don't prune oaks until fall.
Prune evergreens like yew, arborvitae, and junipers once new growth is showing through mid-summer.
Prune spring flowering shrubs and trees after they bloom. Flower buds on these plants grow on old wood and develop over the summer to bring you a beautiful bloom next spring.
Wait to prune crabapple trees until fall or winter.
Spring is slowing arriving which gets many of you thinking about sprucing up the yard. For others you realize you didn't get around to that landscape project last year because you ran out of time or realized you didn't have the expertise to pull it off right. Contact me for contractor referrals or for design expertise. Finding companies that offer quality work and value, while being able to effectively communicate with you, can be hard to find.
Minnesota's food shelves saw over 3 million visits last year. Perhaps you can help stock those shelves with the vegetables (and fruit) you grow in your garden by adding an extra row. The idea of encouraging gardeners to grow and donate the extra bounty of food was started in the 1990s through a nationwide initiative by the Garden Writers Association. Locally, the program being promoted in Minneapolis is called "Plant an Extra Row".
Many food shelves will accept fresh produce. Check first with your local food assistance program.
Many food shelves welcome the donation of fresh produce to supplement the canned and boxed donations. Check with a food shelf in your community to see if they would welcome your donation. Food shelves particularly like the donations of:
Desired Produce
Root and starchy vegetables
Dark greens
Squashes
Fruit
Other highly sought after fresh fruits and vegetables include:
Melons
Peppers
Cucumbers
Onions
Cabbage
With just a little bit of extra effort, you get to feel good and the recipients of your bounty get to eat healthier.
Pure white flowers that don't revert to pink sets this newer weigela apart from other weigelas.
'April Snow' Weigela
New to the market is 'April Snow' Weigela, scientifically called Weigela praecox 'April Snow'. This shrub is different from other weigelas because of its pure white funnel-shaped flowers and its bright green leaves. The dense flower clusters will bloom from April through June and will maintain its color and will not revert to pink with age.
Anticipated height is six feet by five feet in width. This shrub grows best in moist, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. It is patented to USDA Zone 4.
Plant shorter shrubs in front of it that will bloom after 'April Snow', such as spireas or potentillas.
Have a question about your landscape? Want to suggest a newsletter topic? Email me at nancy.dahl@integra.net.
