April-May 2009 Garden Tips
Build a cold frame to start plants outdoors now and get a jump on spring planting. Most do-it-yourselfers can make one, and it’s much cheaper than a greenhouse.
Remove accumulated leaves and debris from underneath evergreens and shrubs.
Rake, overseed, and fertilize the lawn. Avoid applying crabgrass preventer to newly overseeded areas. Seed new lawns while nights are still cool and the weather is wet.
Fertilize established trees, evergreens, and shrubs. Start a fertilizer program.
Fertilize roses and begin maintenance program against black spot and mildew.
Plant Minnesota Grown annuals and geraniums after frost is no longer a danger.
Did you start vegetables and flowers indoors from seed? Start putting them outside during the warm days of May to harden them so they’re ready to transplant when the soil is warm enough.
Put trellises, peony hoops or tomato cages in place now so that your plants can grow into their supports, versus you trying to bend them into place. Work fertilizer into vegetable and flower gardens before they are planted.
Don’t forget to continue deer and rabbit control on newly installed annuals. There are some great organic products to try this year at your neighborhood garden center. The most important consideration in your pest control regime is to begin early in the season and to change the products you employ every couple of weeks.
Apply pre-emergent weed control in shrub and planting beds.
Mulch flower gardens to conserve moisture and reduce weed growth.
With a warming climate, the average safe planting date for tender annuals is now May 15. Installing annuals earlier may seem to give you a jump start on the growing season, but the results may not be desirable. Cold ground temperatures affect a plant’s acclimation just as much as the cold air. In fact, some annuals that are planted too early seem stunted for weeks and never pull out of their shock (ageratum, New Guinea impatiens, zinnias, tomatoes) while others (alyssum, petunias, snapdragons) tolerate the cold air and ground just fine.
Begin apple-tree spray programs after blossoms drop.
Prune forsythia, azaleas, and lilacs after they have flowered; all spring-flowering shrubs should be pruned right after flowering.
Make sure freshly planted trees and shrubs are watered weekly, especially during dry periods. Continue to water through the season.
Prune mugho pines when new growth is fully grown and soft.
Control dandelions and creeping Charlie by applying herbicide before heads are formed.
If spring-flowering bulbs aren’t doing well, dig up bulbs after the foliage has died and divide.
RESOURCES:
GardenMinnesota.com
Heidi’s Lifestyle Gardens
763-475-4969
Villa Landscapes
Burnsville • 952-894-1553
Maple Grove • 763-425-927
Oakdale • 651-773-7440
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