APRIL......................................Average Daily Temp:67 - Average Rainfall: 3.3
PLANT: Seasonal bedding plants for Spring and Summer bloom. Think about plants needs (sun or shade, drainage, height, habit, nutritional needs, etc) before planting. You will want taller plants at the back of the border, or in high center with lower ones toward the front. Scratch in bone meal, blood meal and slow release balanced fertilizer around the new plant. (Read labels.) If using 6 pack or 4 inch potted plants, break off about 1 inch from the bottom of the plant, where roots can be seen emerging. This will serve as root pruning and will "jump start" growth. Settle the plants into new home fairly deep and pull soil up to top of and just above ground level.
Water in well to settle new soil and eliminate air pockets. Water again in a day or. Do not allow new plants to become dry.
PLANT: Any seeds you have good luck with - most summer annual seeds to do well in our area. Thin/transplant when seedlings sprout 2 to 4 leaflets. Keep watered. Do not fertilize plants until well established, then very lightly, til well established.
PRUNING: After azaleas and camellias blooms fade, prune to shape as you like. General rules include taking out growth that gets no sun, growth that is crossing another branch and any growth that looks diseased. Do not remove more than 30% of any plant at any time. If a tree or shrub is seriously overgrown, take off 30'Yo this year and repeat next year and the next until the shape and size pleases you. Pruning is very good for plant material, as a rule, but overdoing it can be deadly. Dead-heading spent blooms on flowering plants, such as roses, is a form of pruning. New growth and new blooms is the result of dead-heading. Neglecting this type of pruning causes the plant to "go to seed". See special section on Roses.
SPRAY: This is last month to spray camellias and holly for scale. Under 80 degrees and over 40 degrees is usual rule. Use Dormant Oil. Roses must have a rigid spray schedule. See Roses.
FEED: All flowering plants need regular fertilizer schedule throughout growing season. Slow release formulas, such as Osmocote 14-14-14 is very convenient and is available in strengths that last up to 4 months. Other brands are fine, too. Be careful with phosphorus. Less is more. Use formulas with substantial phosphorus only during growing season, then change to potassium nitrate or ammonium nitrate, according to package directions. Always water in any fertilizer very, very well. Lucky you when you can catch a Spring or Summer rain just as you have finished fertilizing. Roses, hibiscus, gerbera daisies and even geraniums are gross eaters. Be a little more generous with them.
For organic maintenance, see Howard Grant, the Dirt Doctor at http://www.dirtdoctor.com
Water in well to settle new soil and eliminate air pockets. Water again in a day or. Do not allow new plants to become dry.
PLANT: Any seeds you have good luck with - most summer annual seeds to do well in our area. Thin/transplant when seedlings sprout 2 to 4 leaflets. Keep watered. Do not fertilize plants until well established, then very lightly, til well established.
PRUNING: After azaleas and camellias blooms fade, prune to shape as you like. General rules include taking out growth that gets no sun, growth that is crossing another branch and any growth that looks diseased. Do not remove more than 30% of any plant at any time. If a tree or shrub is seriously overgrown, take off 30'Yo this year and repeat next year and the next until the shape and size pleases you. Pruning is very good for plant material, as a rule, but overdoing it can be deadly. Dead-heading spent blooms on flowering plants, such as roses, is a form of pruning. New growth and new blooms is the result of dead-heading. Neglecting this type of pruning causes the plant to "go to seed". See special section on Roses.
SPRAY: This is last month to spray camellias and holly for scale. Under 80 degrees and over 40 degrees is usual rule. Use Dormant Oil. Roses must have a rigid spray schedule. See Roses.
FEED: All flowering plants need regular fertilizer schedule throughout growing season. Slow release formulas, such as Osmocote 14-14-14 is very convenient and is available in strengths that last up to 4 months. Other brands are fine, too. Be careful with phosphorus. Less is more. Use formulas with substantial phosphorus only during growing season, then change to potassium nitrate or ammonium nitrate, according to package directions. Always water in any fertilizer very, very well. Lucky you when you can catch a Spring or Summer rain just as you have finished fertilizing. Roses, hibiscus, gerbera daisies and even geraniums are gross eaters. Be a little more generous with them.
For organic maintenance, see Howard Grant, the Dirt Doctor at http://www.dirtdoctor.com