April Gardening

Could anyone ask for better weather than the first week of April?

April begins the "no letup in garden work" season in our area.  Eternal vigilance and constant application to the tasks at hand seem to be the price of success in April gardening.

I always talk about roses last.  But not this month.  Aphids have already appeared in large numbers now that spring has arrived.  Ladybugs provide a natural means of controlling these pests, so encourage and protect ladybugs in your rose garden.  Continue to dust or spray roses regularly as a preventive of black spot; and keep up a regular fertilization program.   This is where a garden journal can be of great help to you.

 Remember to prune spring-flowering trees and shrubs after they bloom.  As the flowers fade on azaleas, pruning can begin.  These shrubs should be pruned limb by limb.  Do not shear azaleas, as this will ruin their natural loose, tiered form.  Prune the tallest stems at their point of origin.  This is also the time to fertilize azaleas and camellias.

April is a good time to plant annuals and perennials.  There are too many to name, but a few good annual  performers  include hollyhocks, impatiens, marigolds, petunias, salvia, snapdragons. and zinnias.  It is a good idea to plant heat-resistant annuals also...cosmos, marigolds, sunflowers, tithonias...to name a few.  Try growing morning glories this year.  They have been around forever; but they are still a "glorious" sight on a fence or arbor.  These annual vines like morning sun and afternoon shade.  Soak the seed overnight before planting.  This will speed germination.  For perennials, consider planting daylilies, hostas, phlox, shasta daisies and some verbenas.  A perennial I have enjoyed in my garden is crocosmia.  It multiplies and blooms profusely with a red bloom similar to a petite gladioli.  Very nice! 

 Have you considered planting an herb bed?  Not only are the smells rewarding, but they are useful in seasoning foods and drinks.  Iced tea with a slice of lime and a sprig of mint is delicious and so refreshing after an hour or two of yard work!  When planting herbs, group them as annuals and perennials.  Annuals, such as basil, dill and summer savory can be planted separately or with your vegetables as these plants live for only one season.  Perennial herbs, such as chives, oregano, sage, fennel, tarragon and thyme, come back year after year.  The wonderful mint stays around all year as does the rosemary bush.

There is a bush called the sweet shrub.  It is also known as calycanthus or Carolina Allspice.  If you have never smelled the blooms, you've missed something.  It is blooming in my garden now, and when the warm sun coaxes the dark burgundy blooms to open and release their perfume,  it fills the air with a spicy fragrance.   A special lady in Soperton shared a shoot from her shrub with me years ago.  Since then, I have had shoots to share with others.  I like to think of this as keeping Soperton gardens alive.

See you outside