Spring Garden Calendar

Cassie Homan, Horticulture Agent

Spring is finally here! Most gardeners have been waiting for it all winter, but with warmer weather comes many outdoors chores. It can be easy to get swept away in all the tasks. Creating a garden calendar is an easy way to remind you what needs to be done outdoors. It also gives you a good reference to look back at for next year, to remember when you planted those perfect potatoes, so you can do it again. Here are some important things to do in April.

Vegetables and Fruits

·        Plant carrots, onions, beets and other salad crops in early April

·        Thin radishes, beets and carrots as needed

·        Plant asparagus and rhubarb

·        Prune raspberry and blackberry plantings

·        Do not spray insecticides while fruits flower in order to protect the honeybees

·        Plant beans, corn, vine crops in late April

·        Turn the compost pile after a long winter rest

·        Transplant broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage in the garden

·        Fertilize vegetable garden before planting and incorporate

Flowers

·        Cut back last year's growth from perennials

·        Do not remove foliage from spring flowering bulbs as growth is needed for next year's flowers

·        Fertilize spring flowering bulbs

·        Add organic matter such as compost before planting new flowers

·        Divide perennials

·        Prune rose bushes

·        Fertilize rose bushes for spring growth

·        Plant annuals from seed and transplants

Trees and Shrubs

·        Prune spring flowering shrubs such forsythia & lilac after flowering

·        Prune trees as needed, and repair winter storm damage

·        Plant new trees and shrubs

·        Remove grass from base of young trees and shrubs to prevent lawn mower and line trimmer damage

·        Apply mulch layer around plants

·        Keep new trees and shrubs watered

·        Fertilize young trees to promote growth

For further information on April gardening tasks, contact Cassie at any Post Rock Extension District Office in Beloit, Lincoln, Mankato, Osborne or Smith Center, or email choman@ksu For further information on April gardening tasks, contact Cassie at any Post Rock Extension District Office in Beloit, Lincoln, Mankato, Osborne or Smith Center, or email choman@ksu.edu