April Gardening Tips

April belongs to gardeners.  Those of us who eagerly watch for shoots of green each spring have always known that, but it didn't become official until 1986. That's when a presidential proclamation created the first National Garden Week. The nonprofit National Garden Bureau and 23 national horticultural organizations decided a week wasn't long enough to celebrate gardening; they declared April to be National Garden Month.

April Gardening Checklist:

  • Prune and fertilize azaleas and other spring-flowering plants immediately after they finish blooming.

  • Watch for early-hatching aphids, lace bugs and scales in their crawler stage.  Look for nests of caterpillar-like insects in Cherry trees.  Destroy all you find.  Most insects are easier to control at the infant stage.

  • Continue spraying a weed killer after the grass is mowed until all signs of weeds are gone.
Tip of the Month: Determining Soil Drainage

Many plants need well-drained soil to thrive. To find out how well your soil drains, dig a hole 18 to 24 inches across and 18 to 24 inches deep. Fill the hole with water. If water disappears from the hole in 10 minutes or less, you have sandy soil with fast drainage. If the water takes an hour or more to drain, you have clay soil or a hardpan (an impermeable layer of compacted soil beneath the soil surface). There are many acceptable variations between these two extremes. One way to improve drainage is to mix organic matter--such as shredded bark, compost, or PermaSoil into your soil.
Tips for the Humid South
  • Once night temperatures reach 60°F, plant Caladium tubers 1 to 2 inches deep in loose, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter.  They thrive in shade with dappled light or morning sun.
  • Feed Roses now.
  • Feed all other plants after they bloom.  This will encourage new growth and many more buds for next year.