April Gardening Tips - 2004
by Thea Fiskin, UC Master Gardener

Spring has officially arrived, so let the planting begin. Sowing seeds of annuals and perennials will provide a better variety of plants and save money to boot. Look at seed packets and try varieties not normally available as seedlings in your local nursery. I enjoy ordering seeds and plants by mail and just discovered a great website to guide you to shopping, www.gardenwatchdog.com. The website lists over 3000 gardening vendors with consumer ratings. It's worth checking out.

WHAT TO PLANT
It's finally time to plant all the heat lovers. Avoid buying pansies, primroses and snapdragons, because no matter how tempting they are now, in a few weeks they will become crunchy in the heat!

Annual color - Sow seeds of alyssum, blanket flower, cleome, cockscomb (celosia), coleus, cosmos, impatiens, lobelia, love-in-the-mist, marigold, moss rose (portulacas), nicotiana, marigold, periwinkle (vinca), petunia, salvias, sunflower, and zinnia. Too impatient for seeds? Most will be available as seedlings in nursery six-packs.

Bulbs -Spring is the time for planting caladium, callas, cannas, dahlia, gladiolus, and tuberose. Stagger the planting of gladiolus over several weeks to lengthen the bloom period.

Perennials - Sow seeds or plant seedlings of baby breath (gypsophila), candytuft, carnation, coneflower, coreopsis, hollyhock, Pink (dianthus), statice, verbena, and wallflower (erysimum).

Herbs - It's time to start a culinary garden with basil, cilantro, chives, curly or Italian parsley, lavender, oregano, sages and thyme. Plant mint in containers to control its unruly behavior.

Vegetables - In early April there's still time for beets, lettuce, and radishes. In late April plant only the heat lovers, beans, corn, cucumber, eggplant, melons, okra, peppers, summer squash, and tomatoes. Once again be sure to check out seed packets for varieties not available as seedlings.

GARDEN CHORES
Fertilize - Feed lawns, roses, shrubs, and trees (just about everything) with a balanced fertilizer. Use acid fertilizer on azaleas, gardenias, and rhododendrons after they flower. When daffodils and other spring bulbs finish bloom and before leaves wither, give them a shot of fertilizer for next year's flowers. If citrus leaves are looking a little yellow, then spray them with a liquid chelated iron/zinc mixture. This is great for gardenias, too!

Pinch/Prune - Pinch annuals and perennials for dense growth and more bloom. Lightly prune spring flowering shrubs, such as azaleas, camellias, forsythia, and lilac, when they finish blooming. Just prune them to shape and don't remove more than 1/3 of the growth. Do not trim or braid foliage on bulbs until it has turned completely yellow to allow plants to store nutrients for next year. Thin fruit on deciduous fruit trees now for improved size and sweetness of fruit at harvest time. Depending upon fruit size (cherries are smaller than apricots, and apricots are smaller than peaches), space fruit from 6 to 10" apart along the branch.

Critter control - Aphids showed up early this year! These insects come in a variety of colors: black, gray, green, and yellow, and they suck plants fluids from the new foliage. Blast plants with a jet of water from a hose. That's right; a strong spray will dislodge and drown pests such as aphids, those nuisance whiteflies, and mites. Don't forget to spray the undersides of leaves. If infestations are heavy, try using an insecticidal soap. Also wrap sticky barriers to trees and shrubs to prevent ants from protects aphids. It's not too soon to control mosquitoes, drain any standing water, and add mosquito fish or goldfish to ponds. Bait or handpick slugs and snails.
If necessary, protect new plants from wildlife, or in my son's case, two playful Labradors. Fence critters out with poultry or wire fencing. Fencing should be 2 to 3 feet high, with stakes to keep it standing up. Cage plants singly or as groups. If ground squirrels are a problem, use fencing with small openings and cap the top. For gophers you can use special wire baskets to place the new plants in, although the old fashioned Macabee traps are probably more effective. Good luck!

HAPPY GARDENING
You know you are a "true" gardener when: you visit the plant nursery in your town and the people working there know your name; other nursery customers mistake you for an employee and ask you gardening questions; upon arrival home from the nursery you plant your new stash of plants before your spouse sees them. Welcome to the club!

 

April 1, 2004