TIPS FOR BULBS IN APRIL:

Apply bone meal to crocus as flowers fade. Don't tie crocus greenery back as flowers fade. It will weaken the bulbs and reduce future bloom production. 

Pick faded blooms but allow greenery to die off naturally before picking. Braid leaves to keep them tidy. 

Watch out for thrips on your Daffodils. Thrips are insects that will cause the leaves and flowers to turn pale silver, then brown and eventually die. If you find an infestation; remove and destroy the infested part and use lace wings soap or green lace wings to eliminate thrips. 

Add bone meal and well - rotted compost to Asiatic Lilies when the foliage is several inches tall. 

To keep deer away from Asiatic Lilies, mix a concoction containing: Hot Peppers, Garlic cloves, liquid soap and water. Spray the lilies with this mixture to fend off deer. 

Divide over grown winter iris and order later flowering varieties for mid - summer planting. 

Plant new lily-of-the-valley pips. Mulch well with compost to protect against unforeseen cold spells.





TIPS FOR FLOWERS:

Harden off summer bedding plants. They must be slowly aclimatized to outside conditions. Do not place outside if there is risk of frost. 

Plant water plants now. Water lilies grow well in full sun. 

Garden Centers are filled with more perennials in April than any other month of the year. Be sure to get the plants you want by going now 

Plant snapdragons, violas and dianthus now. 





TIPS FOR VEGETABLES:

Rotate vegetable crops to help control pests, disease and keep the soil in good condition. 

Plant warm season vegetables indoors now for transplanting outdoors in May. 

If you haven't done so already set out onion seedlings and perennial vegetables such as horse - raddish, asparagus and artichokes. 

Put small felt collars around young cabbage plants to protect the roots from being attacked by root flies. 

Sow maincrop potatoes approximately 2 feet apart; to ensure room for development later. 








GENERAL YARD & GARDEN CARE:

Check trellis and support wires on climbers before the plants are fully developed. Winds, frost and snow can often dislodge supports during the winter. 

Check the brackets used for hanging baskets. Once the flowers are in full bloom and compost is moist they will become much heavier. 

Dig in compost, manure and other amendments in in planting areas when the soil is dry enough. 

Cover crops are planted to keep soil from eroding during heavy rains. These crops make excellent organic fertilizer. If you have planted cover crops last winter, make sure you turn them now. 

Don't forget to water plants under overhangs. Water new plantings and blooming rhododendron regularly. Feed Rhododendron right after they bloom. Nitrogen is required but not available naturally. 





TIPS FOR FRUIT & BERRIES:

There is still time to plant your blueberries, currents and gooseberries. Plant them in full sun and keep them well watered. Do not plant gooseberries next to five - needle pine trees. They will infect each other with white pine blister rust. 

Prune stone fruit trees such as peaches and nectarines, as soon as buds begin to develop. Do not prune these in the winter, while they are dormant. 

Keep a close eye on fruit trees for aphids this time of year. 





TIPS FOR LAWNS:

Feed lawn with high - nitrogen fertilizer from April to Sept. for really green grass. Make sure you use a spreader to ensure fertilizer is spread evenly. 

Water lawns regularly when the rains don't do it for you. 

If you plan on starting a new lawn from seed you can start preparing the soil now. Rake the surface level and add a general fertilizer. 

Repair dead patches in ground covers by tearing them out. Add compost and peat moss into the soil then replant bare areas with divisions taken from outer edges. 

Clip back established groundcover. 


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