April Gardening
1. Spray program for roses endorsed by the American Rose Society and the Long Island Rose Society is also environment friendly. Spray with the highly refined oil early in the season using that same oil in combination with Wiltpruf as a deterrent for both mildew and for black spot.
A couple of times during the season spray with Daconil ( or Immunox) as a routine fungicide. Prune hybrid tea roses down to about 18".
Soil supplements for established roses
1/2 cup epsom salts per plant (lightly scratch into soil around each plant) ; 1 cup gypsum ;
1 Tbl. lime to raise PH; 1/2 cup 5-10-5 applied at least 6" from the base of the plant ( organic fertilizer or 10-10-10 can be used also)
2. Remember that fall blooming perennials can be split in the spring. Feed perennials now with an organic fertilizer for slow release. 10-10-10 is another good perennial fertilizer.
3. Watch for overcrowding in your perennial garden... thin and/or redig and reshape invasive varieties.
4. Buddlea, caryopteris, vitex, spirea, potentilla, abelia, montauk daisies, chrysanthemums and asters can be pruned now.
5. Viola, pansies and Johnny Jump Ups are wonderful early spring color for your garden. They prefer cooler spring weather.
6. Crabgrass pre-emergent is best spread before May 15th ; before forsythia bloom is good
7. Sow seeds of marigolds, nasturtiums and morning glories indoors
8. stake peonies before they start to flop over
9. divide hellebores after they flower
10.BE PATIENT... it's still too early and too cold for impatiens, petunias and many summer flowering annuals... remember some cold tolerant annuals like nemesia, allysum, cornflower, nigella, snapdragons and remember primrose, english daisies, ranunculus and california poppies
A couple of times during the season spray with Daconil ( or Immunox) as a routine fungicide. Prune hybrid tea roses down to about 18".
Soil supplements for established roses
1/2 cup epsom salts per plant (lightly scratch into soil around each plant) ; 1 cup gypsum ;
1 Tbl. lime to raise PH; 1/2 cup 5-10-5 applied at least 6" from the base of the plant ( organic fertilizer or 10-10-10 can be used also)
2. Remember that fall blooming perennials can be split in the spring. Feed perennials now with an organic fertilizer for slow release. 10-10-10 is another good perennial fertilizer.
3. Watch for overcrowding in your perennial garden... thin and/or redig and reshape invasive varieties.
4. Buddlea, caryopteris, vitex, spirea, potentilla, abelia, montauk daisies, chrysanthemums and asters can be pruned now.
5. Viola, pansies and Johnny Jump Ups are wonderful early spring color for your garden. They prefer cooler spring weather.
6. Crabgrass pre-emergent is best spread before May 15th ; before forsythia bloom is good
7. Sow seeds of marigolds, nasturtiums and morning glories indoors
8. stake peonies before they start to flop over
9. divide hellebores after they flower
10.BE PATIENT... it's still too early and too cold for impatiens, petunias and many summer flowering annuals... remember some cold tolerant annuals like nemesia, allysum, cornflower, nigella, snapdragons and remember primrose, english daisies, ranunculus and california poppies
posted by donna | 5:29 PM
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