NOT YOUR GARDEN VARIETY ADVICE.

We've earned a reputation for understanding plants, landscaping, gardening techniques and all things outdoors. So it's not surprising people come to us for help. Our monthly gardening advice will help you stay on the right gardening track. 

Gardening by the Month

For the Lawn:

• Seed lawns now, this is the second best time for seeding; the best is Aug. 15 to Sept. 15 when soils are warm and there is less weed competition.

• Apply another application of lawn fertilizer at the end of the month (six weeks after the early spring application).

• Apply post-emergence herbicides for broadleaf weed control (use liquid spot sprays or granular "weed & feed" products).

• Do not apply grub controls now; wait until June or July if needed.

• Mow lawn at 3 inches high. Leave clippings to return
  nutrients to the soil.

In the Ornamental Garden:

• Wait until the frost free date, May 15th to plant warm season flowering annuals, vines, herb, and vegetables.
• Continue spraying emerging perennials like peonies, phlox and roses to protect from fungal diseases like botrytis blossom blight, black spot and powdery mildew. Use systemic fungicides like Immunox or Infuse; or use contact fungicides like Chlorothalanil or Mancozeb, and re-treat after rain.
• Continue applications of fungicides to crab apples
  and hawthorns weekly through May for best control of Apple Scab & Cedar-hawthorn Rust.
• Continue to plant perennials, ornamental grasses and roses throughout the month.
• Prune spring-flowering shrubs and ornamental trees immediately after they bloom.
• Fertilize roses for the second time after the first flush of blooms.
• Monitor roses for insects and disease, especially black spot. Remove infected foliage and spray
  immediately with fungicides listed above.
• Continue to check peonies for botrytis blight, cage plants when 10" tall.
• Remove spent flowers from spring bulbs, but allow foliage to remain in the sun for another 6 weeks, apply a bulb fertilizer.
• Plant waterlilies and other aquatic plants when water temperature is 65 degrees.

In the Edible Garden:

• Purchase a rain gauge, gardens need an average of 1 inch of water per
  week.

• Set out tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and herbs etc, after May 15th.