Gardening Tip

APRIL 

April showers bring May flowers...this is one of the busiest months for planting so let's get busy! 

Plant: 

Vegetables: Warm season vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplant, corn, beans, cucumbers, cantaloupe and okra. 

Herbs: Plant herbs every where: in containers, in your vegetable or flower bed...anywhere they will have ample room to grow and get sufficient sunlight. 

Annuals: for sun or shade...add some color to your beds so the Easter Bunny can find you! Plant angelonia, snapdragons, dianthus, marigolds, zinnias, pentas, moss rose in full sun. Brighten your shady beds with gorgeous coleus, begonias, impatiens, caladiums and elephant ears.

Roses: everyone can now enjoy the beauty of roses! Whether you prefer EarthKind, Drift, antique or climbing roses they are all hardy in our North Central Texas climate. Plant roses in full sun and well prepared and well draining beds. 

Perennials: choose from a large assortment of flowering perennials. Chose the colors you like best and let your creative side loose! ANd don't forget to add some ornamental grasses. 

Trees. Shrubs, Groundcovers, vines: these form the 'backbone" of your landscape. Be sure to select ones that fit into your landscape based on mature height and width. 

Grass: After the 15th you can plant St. Augustine sod or plugs and Broadcast Bermuda seed. 


Prune:

Do not prune oak trees this month.  Wait until after June 1st to minimize the possibility of spreading Oak Wilt. 

Prune early spring blooming shrubs and trees when the blossoms are finished.  Azalea, dogwood, saucer magnolia (Tulip Tree) Redbud, Forsythia, Spirea, Carolina Jessamine, Crossvine, Lady Banks Rose, etc.

Lawns: 

For healthy lawns, do not mow too low. St. Augustine should be mowed at 2-2.5" and Bermuda t 1.5". 

Fertilize St. Augustine grass this month and use a post emergent to spot spray for weeds.

Check new growth on roses, photons, crape myrtles, and others for aphids; they will appear in clusters on tender young growth. 

Spray  with Pyrethrin, Neem Oil or Rose Spray.

Then take a moment to enjoy the results of your hard work!