Blooming Season is just around the corner and what you do in April will bring luscious growth and flowers May – September.
You’ll need:
Leather gloves are a must when you’re handling roses! Those thorns aren’t just sharp, they have a toxin on them that makes a cut hurt!
Bucket of bleach water
Clippers I love these, they fit my hand, are easy to use and are sharp! They fit in my pocket and have a lock on them so I don’t cut holes in my clothes! (and they’re on sale!)
Preen (weed stunter) 22 pounds of it! I know it seems like a lot, but weeds are everywhere and you have to replace it every (they say 3 months) I spread it every 2 months. And remember, this won’t kill weeds already grown, but stops them from growing—so put on your raincoat and boots and spread NOW!
Rose food (if you didn’t feed and protect in March then do it now) and remember we’re doing more than feeding them, we’re systemically protecting them from mold, rot, aphids, etc.
Hand hoe or if you’re new to gardening get this set for $20 (I love a rubber handle for better grip and when I’m not wearing gloves it protects my hands.)
Time to take a look at those roses. If you didn’t get them trimmed on President’s Day and/or you live where there was snow or ice after Feb. your roses may have frost damage. If it’s black on the branches, cut it off. If they’ve started budding and you know that stock can’t hold up a heavy bloom, count back 5 leaves and cut below the 5th one. I often also trim the roses down to knee high this time of year—spindly growth this time of year won’t support June blooms. Don’t be afraid—cut!
Weed season is just about to start, Preen everywhere you don’t want weeds to grow. Remember you can use it in your flowerbeds where plants are established. Don’t use it around new plants, give them a year in your flowerbeds before you Preen them. I do walkways, around roses, in bark dust, bushes, between veggie beds, etc.
Here in the Northwest, flower sales are popping up everywhere—DON’T BE TEMPTED! If you buy flower baskets, annuals, vegetable starts, you’ll either get stunted growth or need to plant again. Wait for the soil to warm up. In the Northwest, and Mid-West, a rule of thumb is wait until the dogwood trees bloom to plant in the ground and hang out baskets. Dogwoods bloom when the air and soil is conducive to growth (In the Northwest, it’s also when the Salmon runs start!)
If you can’t stand it, and buy starts, keep them in a protected place: garage, greenhouse, indoors, or covered porch. Plant them on Mother’s Day as a rule. Some years you can sneak early and other years June is better…best to watch the Dogwoods!
If you didn’t spread your Epsom salts in March around your berry bushes, azaleas, Rhodes, Hostas (to thwart slugs), get to it!
I was asked, “Can I plant tulip bulbs this month?” You can, but they will be stunted in height, but then they’ll be there for next spring! I know they say to pull them up and replant—I don’t. I figure the hardy ones survive, the wimpy don’t. I just replant where the wimpy ones were.
*Fun Tip! We often get our planting areas overcrowded, or they get sloppy. If you have garden statues, bird baths, etc.…,pull them all out, work the soil in the beds, then selectively put them back. You’ll find some you’ll keep, some need to be trashed, some need to be repainted, etc. Do it this month before the garden blooms.
*Affiliate Marketer. If you follow the link to Amazon, as often as I can I get you discounted prices, and I make a small commission to keep my gardening purchases! LOL! Help a girl out! 😉
