Gardening Chores and Tips for April
House plants
Great time to re-pot root bound plants. Homemade: 5 parts loam soil (sterilized), 4 parts organic matter, 1 part coarse sand. High quality potting mixes are also desirable. Once the nighttime temperatures have warmed to 50 degrees, move your houseplants outside, in the shade, for the summer months. Water well and apply fertilizer to encourage new growth.
Herbs
Brew mint tea from your spearmint or apple mint. Cut a handful of stems, chop into three-inch pieces and pour boiling water over them. Let
stand for five minutes, strain, add honey and pour over ice. Culinary herbs are easy to grow.
Water Gardens
For maximum effect in a container water garden, showcase a single kind of plant, such as a water lily. Aquatic plants are growing vigorously
this month and the nurseries carry a wide selection. Add a few goldfish to control the mosquitoes.
Azaleas
Prune, only if needed, after the flowers fade. Apply a fertilizer of 16-4-8 at the rate recommended on the label. Sprinkle around the drip line of
the plant to avoid letting the fertilizer touch the branches.
Annuals
Many cool season annuals are full size now. Stake and support plants that require it, such as hollyhocks, snapdragons, foxgloves and larkspur.
Lawns
It's time to start cutting. A good general rule of thumb for spring cutting: Remove only the top third of the grass blades with each cutting. Always wear sturdy shoes, always push instead of pulling and wear safety glasses to protect your eyes. Earplugs are a great benefit too. Apply
a quality fertilizer. A timed release product is well worth the extra money.
Great time to re-pot root bound plants. Homemade: 5 parts loam soil (sterilized), 4 parts organic matter, 1 part coarse sand. High quality potting mixes are also desirable. Once the nighttime temperatures have warmed to 50 degrees, move your houseplants outside, in the shade, for the summer months. Water well and apply fertilizer to encourage new growth.
Herbs
Brew mint tea from your spearmint or apple mint. Cut a handful of stems, chop into three-inch pieces and pour boiling water over them. Let
stand for five minutes, strain, add honey and pour over ice. Culinary herbs are easy to grow.
Water Gardens
For maximum effect in a container water garden, showcase a single kind of plant, such as a water lily. Aquatic plants are growing vigorously
this month and the nurseries carry a wide selection. Add a few goldfish to control the mosquitoes.
Azaleas
Prune, only if needed, after the flowers fade. Apply a fertilizer of 16-4-8 at the rate recommended on the label. Sprinkle around the drip line of
the plant to avoid letting the fertilizer touch the branches.
Annuals
Many cool season annuals are full size now. Stake and support plants that require it, such as hollyhocks, snapdragons, foxgloves and larkspur.
Lawns
It's time to start cutting. A good general rule of thumb for spring cutting: Remove only the top third of the grass blades with each cutting. Always wear sturdy shoes, always push instead of pulling and wear safety glasses to protect your eyes. Earplugs are a great benefit too. Apply
a quality fertilizer. A timed release product is well worth the extra money.
