Charlotte's Garden

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Monthly Garden Tips

April

Plant a tree for Arbor day-- The Last Friday of the month!

Azaleas

Transplant azaleas while in bloom, so you can see the effect of the colors. Get as much root system as possible and keep moist.
Don't forget to mulch--they like pine straw.

Bulbs

Plant tender bulbs such as glads, cannas, and tuberous begonias.
It's also a good time to plant caladium, elephant ears, lilies, cannas, tuberoses and other bulb like plants.
Plant caladium when outside temperatures reach 70 degrees. They like light shade and rich, moist, well-drained soil
Fertilize all Spring flowering bulbs now, if not done last month, with bonemeal or superphosphate.
Cut back the blooms as they fade, but don't cut back the foliage until it dies back on its own.

Easter Lily

When the flowers fade from your potted Easter Lilies, you can add it to your garden. Plant it in a sunny, well-drained spot in your border. If rootbound, use a sharp knife to cut through the matted roots on the outside of the ball. This will encourage roots to spread into surrounding soil. Remove flower stalks before they form seeds, but let the foliage turn yellow, before cutting back. It will probably bloom in June or July, next year.

Flowering Branches

When cutting branches of flowering shrubs, for indoor arrangements, remember, you are in effect, pruning the plant. Consider the shape that is left. Put the branches in water. Plants in bloom this month include spirea, dogwood, azalea, saucer magnolia and kerria.

Flowers

• Annuals: Plant zinnias, marigolds, scarlet sage (salvia), alyssum, Madagascar periwinkle, and celosia . Fertilize bedding plants as you set them out.
  Impatiens are one of my favorite shade plants. They add color to the shade and are easy to grow. Wait until all danger of frost has passed, about the middle of the month, in the Upper South, to plant. They come in many sizes and colors, and look great in containers or beds.
  In the Middle, Lower, and Coastal South, plant cosmos, Mexican sunflower, cockscomb, sunflowers, and gomphrena. In a sunny, well-drained area, work the soil at least 6 inches deep, and add organic matter. Lightly rake the top of the soil and sprinkle the seeds on top of loose soil and water gently.
• Perennials: After danger of frost has passed, plant seeds of foxglove, columbine, coneflower, hollyhock, bee balm , blazing star, and other perennials.
  You can still divide perennials, in the Upper South, if they aren't Spring bloomers, and their foliage isn't more than a few inches tall. Signs they need dividing are decreased blooming and a dead spot in the middle.
  Fertilize established beds with ½ cup 5-10-10 or similar complete fertilizer.
  Stake plants that will grow tall, while they're just a foot or so high.
  Rootings started now, from chrysanthemums, geraniums, Shasta daisies, pinks, and evergreen candytuft, should be ready to plant in August and September. Use 4 inch cuttings from new growth, insert in growing medium, and keep moist until roots form.
  Asters-Plant seeds now, and enjoy the blooms this fall. Plant with summer annuals and when the annuals fade, the asters will just be getting started. They need full sun to light shade, and well-drained soil. Asters should be pinched back once in the Spring and again in early Summer to encourage compact growth.
  Cannas-Plant after danger of frost is past. They bloom best in full sun, but, massed in a partial shade, their lush foliage also makes a great back drop for an annual or perennial border. Plant roots about 5 inches deep and 12 to 18 inches apart.

Herbs

Wait until two weeks after frost to set out basil.
Plant perennial herbs such chives, oregano, mint, fennel, horseradish, lemon balm, parsley, sage, thyme, and tarragon in a permanent location.

Houseplants

When danger of frost is passed, move your houseplants out to a shady spot. Now's a good time to repot and fertilize them to get ready for summer growth.
Cut back "leggy" plants, and those that have lost their leaves.
Watch for insect problems.
Water more often, now that they are outside, and feed every 2 weeks with soluble 18-18-18 fertilizer.

Lawns

Time to fertilize warm season grasses in the Middle and Lower South.

Pruning

Prune Spring blooming shrubs, if needed, after they finish blooming.

Shrubs and Trees

Plant container grown trees and shrubs.
Add an extra layer of mulch to conserve moisture and keep down weeds.
If you haven't already fertilized your fruit trees, do it now, with a low nitrogen fertilizer 5-10-10.
Remove suckers coming from below the graft, on grafted trees.
Set out new plants started from softwood, and semi-hardwood cuttings last fall. Young azaleas, camellias, forsythias , and spireas should be large enough to bloom next Spring, if started early in the season. About 6 weeks after setting them out, start fertilizing new shrubs with 1 tsp. 5-10-10 per plant every 8 weeks, until September.
Crepe Myrtle-feed this month with superphosphate or a fertilizer such as 5-10-10.

Strawberries

Some established plants start blooming early this month, and bear fruit toward the end of the month. Mulch with pine straw or grass clippings to keep fruit off the ground.
Pick them promptly as they begin to color up. And watch out for slugs and sow bugs!
Water every 3 to 5 days during harvest season.

Roses

Fertilize roses now and every 4 to 6 weeks through summer. Remove suckers growing from below the graft union.
Spray regularly to control fungus and insects.

Vegetables

To prevent blossom end rot in tomatoes, add calcium to soil by applying lime or gypsum, 2 Tbsp. per plant.
If your region's frost date has passed, plant tomatoes, peppers, and other warm season vegetables.
In the Upper South, you can still plant some cool season vegetables, such as radishes, peas, sweet peas, lettuces, and other greens.
You will need to use seedlings, if you want to plant broccoli, cauliflower and cabbages.
Fertilize regularly with composted manure or a commercial fertilizer, such as 5-10-10, on both sides of the row. Fertilize monthly until about 2 weeks before harvest.
Wait until the soil has warmed to 60 degrees F to plant seeds for corn, green beans, melons, squash, cucumbers, okra, and sweet potatoes. That's usually 2 weeks after frost and when it's comfortable to go barefoot in your garden.
To improve pollination of corn, plant several rows, side by side, instead of one long row.
Plant cantaloupe if you have plenty of room. Plant 2 to 3 seeds to a hill, with hills about 6 feet apart. Thin seedlings to the strongest one when they are 2 to 3 inches tall.
Time to set out roots of horseradish. Needs full sun and deep, well drained soil. Set root pieces 12 to 18 inches apart in a 3 to 5 inch deep trench.

Vines

Prune back wisteria after it has finished blooming.
Time to do maintenance work on trellises, and other support for vines.
Annual vines to plant now are morning glories, which bloom in the mornings, and moon vine, which blooms in the evening.