Blog Archives

April Garden Tasks & Tips

3/27/2013

Trees & Shrubs

Prune spring-flowering shrubs like forsythia, weigela, Japanese quince and lilac within two to three weeks after the last petals have dropped.

Fertilize and prune azaleas and camellias back into shape after they have finished blooming

Perennials, Annuals & Bulbs

Edge your garden beds.
Prune any semi-woody perennials like lavender, sage, artemisia and careopteris.
Clean your pond or water feature and remove winter and dead plant debris.
Divide water garden and bog plants.
Plant dahlias after the 15th.
Begin staking tall perennials that tend to fall over.
Add well-rotted manure, processed manure, peat moss or compost to your annual planting beds.
Wait to plant annuals until after the 15th.

Blog by: Sabine Ehlers, CMG
Source: Friends of UT Gardens Organization

Fruits, Vegetables & Herbs

Transplant strawberries and perennial herbs.
Harvest early greens, onions and herbs (cilantro, mints, thyme, sage, rosemary and oregano.
Continue to plant cool-season vegetables.

Miscellaneous
Enjoy blooming wildflowers, bulbs, spring-flowering trees and shrubs (azalea, rhododendron, kalmia).

3/9/2013

Trees & Shrubs

Early March is still a good time to transplant shrubs, trees and hardy vines.
Fertilize trees, shrubs and evergreens mid to late in the month.
Prune summer-flowering shrubs like Crepe Myrtle after the last extremely cold weather, but before they leaf out significantly.
Prune roses this month. Begin to spray for blackspot.

Fruit, Vegetables & Herbs

Remove straw mulch from strawberries at the first sign of growth.
Remove weeds from fruit, flower and vegetable beds.
Direct-seed cool-season greens, onions (sets), beets, carrots, early potatoes, radish and Swiss chard.
Divide herbs such as chives, creeping thyme, mint and French tarragon.
Direct seed nasturtiums, cilantro, dill and parsley.
Start seeds indoors of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and basil.

Perennials, Annuals & Bulbs

Cut back ornamental grasses to just above their growing crown; divide any thick and overgrown clumps.
Set your mower on its highest height and mow ground covers to easily remove old foliage.
Plant tender bulbs, corms, and tubers (gladiola and lilies).
Begin fertilizing perennials as soon as new growth appears.
Feed crocus after blooms have faded; fertilize daffodils (5-10-5) when they are an inch out of the ground and again when the tops yellow.
Divide and transplant clumping perennials such as daylily, hosta and Siberian iris.
Transplant seedlings started last month into finishing containers and fertilize lightly.
There is still time to plant cold-tolerant annual flowers such as larkspur, snapdragon, viola, stock, candytuft and sweet peas.

Miscellaneous

Transplant head lettuce, broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts.
Enjoy blooms of eary wildflowers, forsythia, quince, pansy, viola, snapdragons, early daffodils and some tulips.

Blog by: Sabine Ehlers, CMG
Source: Friends of UT Gardens Organization