April 19, 2010

Spring Lawn and Garden Care

            Don’t be in a hurry to fertilize your lawn. Early fertilization will make your lawn green up very rapidly and look like the fertilizer was just what it needed but the reality is that early fertilization encourages rapid top growth at the expense of a healthy root system making your lawn weaker and more susceptible to drought or heat later in the year. To really help make your lawn healthier, delay fertilizing until Memorial Day.  By that time the first flush of growth is over and the grass plants are ready to put their energy into building a healthy root system. 

            Don’t trim your lilacs or apple trees right now if you want lots of blossoms. These species develop their buds the previous season. Generally, they should be pruned and trimmed immediately after the finish blooming.  If you are willing to sacrifice this year’s blossoms it will not hurt to trim now. 

            Cool season vegetables like radishes, lettuce, kohlrabi, swiss chard, and cabbages can be planted anytime now but don’t be in a hurry with warm season vegetables like tomatoes and peppers. If you are setting out transplants you may want to wait another week or two for the cool season plants or be prepared to cover them or provide some type of frost protection if we get a severe cold snap.  Our average date of the last spring frost is about May 19^th.  Of course that frost date can easily vary at least tow weeks earlier or later.