Master Gardeners

April Garden Chores from Your Georgia Master Gardeners

Dig in 2 cubic feet of soil conditioner for every 10 square feet of bed area when preparing new flower beds.

Pull up invasive plants such as Chinese privet, honeysuckle and English ivy.

You may kill pollinating bees if you spray your fruit trees with pesticides while they are blooming.  Wait until most of the blooms have dropped before spraying.

Do not work in your garden when the foliage is wet to avoid spreading diseases from one plant to another.

Fertilize daylilies in April, June and September.

Plant tomato seedlings in your garden as the weather warms up, after the danger of frost has passed.  To reduce the likelihood of blossom end rot on your tomatoes, work one-half handful of dolomitic lime into the soil around each plant, mulch and provide a uniform amount of moisture during the growing season.

Don’t be too quick to remove perennials and shrubs that have been damaged by cold.  Cut back the dead branches above ground but leave the roots in place until June to see if new shoots appear.

Fertilize emerging perennials with bone meal, following label directions.

Remove faded flowers from daffodils and hyacinths but let the foliage remain and die back naturally.

Buy azaleas when in bloom so you can select colors compatible with your existing landscape.

Prune spring-flowering trees and shrubs AFTER they bloom.

For a different look on a sunny fence, trellis or mailbox, plant hyacinth bean – a fast growing ornamental bean (annual).  Pink flowers give way to shiny, purple pods that are as attractive as the flowers.  Wait until after the danger of frost to plant.

As you see new growth on your roses, begin fertilizing (following label directions) every four to six weeks.

Mid to late April is a good time to plant annuals and perennials.  Fertilize with a starter fertilizer that contains lots of phosphorus (the middle fertilizer number).

Divide and transplant perennials and ground covers this month.  Water them well until they are established if rain is sparse.

After spring-flowering bulbs are finished blooming, feed them a 5-10-15 or similar ratio fertilizer following label directions.

Fertilize summer bulbs now.  Always follow label directions.

Container grown trees can be planted now.

Remove the thin sprouts (suckers) that grow from the base of Dogwood, Cherry and Crabapple trees and crape myrtles.

Replace the pansies in container planters with summer annuals.

Protect hydrangeas and roses if a late frost threatens.

If you do not have a compost pile, start one.

Repot root bound houseplants before moving them outdoors in warm weather and begin fertilizing them at half the recommended strength.  Protect them from direct sun.

Eliminate weeds before they set seed and you will also be reducing future weed problems.

Set out herb transplants after the danger of frost has passed.

Sod or sprig new lawn areas to fill in bare spots in existing lawns.

Fertilize azaleas after blooming is complete.

Fertilize cool and warm season grasses.

As the soil temperature warms up, begin planting summer flowering bulbs – dahlias, gladiolus, caladiums, cannas.

Remove grass and weeds from under newly planted trees.  Mulch all the way out to the ends of the branches.

Regularly water bare-root roses and trees planted this spring.

Twist off faded flowers of rhododendron after they bloom to double the number of flowers next year.