Things to do in April

Design-

                Observe the locations of your spring bulbs while they are flowering.  Knowing where they are, and what color they are, is very beneficial during fall planting. 

Chores-

                Finish your spring clean up; remove any debris that has collected in your garden or lawn over the winter months.  If you used a layer of protective mulch over the winter it should be removed, or incorporated into the soil.

                April is a good time to get some fertilizing done in your garden.  Here is a list of plants that can be fertilized in April:

                Bulbs                                                                      Bonemeal, dehydrated manure, or organic fertilizer

                Woody plants                                                      Nitrogen

                Emerging perennials                                            Organic fertilizer 5-10-5

                If you haven't has your soil tested yet, stop by your local County Cooperative Extension Office and pick up a soil test pack.  If you have already had your soil tested, make any necessary changes.

                If you decide to add mulch to your garden for aesthetic purposes, be careful not to sacrifice your plants' health for a nice background.  Dyed mulches may be gaining popularity, but they can be very detrimental to your gardens.  Most dyed mulches are made from ground wood chips, which deplete nitrogen from your soil as they decompose. 

A shredded, hardwood bark mulch makes an excellent choice, and is the safest for your garden.  Even though this type of mulch is good for your garden, moderation is still important.  Before putting down a fresh layer of mulch, the old mulch should be turned over, and worked into the soil.  Piling mulch layer-after-layer will create a barrier above the soil, and prevent water from reaching your plants' root systems.  Another negative result of over mulching is the effect it has on shallow-rooted plants, such as azaleas.  When mulch is piled up on top of the soil, the roots of some plants will rise up into this layer.  The plant will thrive for a very short period, but then be killed in the winter when the shallow roots freeze and thaw repeatedly.

After you have turned over the existing mulch, you should spread 2-3" of fresh mulch.  Be careful to avoid piling mulch around the base of plants.  Having mulch piled at its base is a veritable death sentence to most plants.  It invites organisms that cause stem rot, and suffocates the plant.

Don't let the potential downsides of mulching frighten you away.  The benefits of mulching correctly are numerous.  Mulch maintains consistent soil temperatures, controls weeds, conserves water, and limits erosion.  In addition to all this, it also makes the garden appear neat and "finished".

                Summer and fall-blooming perennials can be divided.