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