April Landscaping Tips and Information
General
- Are your spring landscape projects started or scheduled?
- Have you considered adding hardscape, plantings, low voltage lighting or a sound system?
- Have you planned an Arbor day planting?
- Is your lawn mower checked and serviced or have you contacted your lawn care professional?
- Do you have a planned lawn and plant care program for the season? If not have you signed up for one with a licensed professional?
- Test soils in lawns and beds to see what nutrients and supplements are needed.
- Watch for early season pests. (scale, aphids, tent caterpillars and etc. plus weeds)
Flower & Vegetable Gardens
- Clean up the garden.
- Add your compost. ( 1-3”)
- Weed beds before planting spring flowers.
- Consider native plants requiring less water and care in our area.
- Cut back ornamental grasses and perennials.
Tree & Shrub Beds
- Replace winter damaged shrubs. Consider spring flowering plants.
- Prepare planting areas with compost and other amendments.
- Prune dead wood or winter damage.
- *DO NOT Prune spring flowering trees and shrubs unless just removing damage.
- Prune hedges and summer blooming shrubs.
- Apply a fresh layer of mulch to beds. NO mulch volcanos, keep the mulch away from plant trunks and soft wood.
Lawns
- Start mowing at about 3” high as needed. “ Grasscycle”- leave the clippings for free fertilizer.
- For lawns not cared for in the fall and in poor condition: Aerate, dethatch, topdress where needed and overseed.
- Start or continue your traditional or organic lawn care program. Now is the time for the first Crabgrass pre-emergent application.
Watering
- Prepare your irrigation system by testing, adjusting, and repairing any leaks.
- Monitor moisture levels at the plant’s roots, not on the surface.
- Water new plantings and seed.
