April 2017 Maintenance Tips
In the Garden
- Clean-up flower beds by removing dead leaves from perennials.
- Apply a pre-emergent herbicide such as Preen and replenish mulch as needed to help prevent weeds throughout the year. Mulch also helps retain moisture and regulate soil temperatures throughout the year. Do not stack mulch against crowns of perennials.
- Amend beds with compost if possible and/or fertilize with slow release fertilizer (we use Osmocote) when growth begins.
- Deadhead early flowering bulbs—leave foliage until it yellows which is a minimum of 1 month after flowering.
- If necessary Divide and Transplant Perennials such as Hostas, Daylilies, etc. before they grow 3-4 inches tall. Divide summer and fall flowering perennials and ornamental grasses in the spring as needed.
- Weed… while they are small and easy to pull!!!
- Be Patient with slow emerging plants such as Butterfly Bush, hardy Hibiscus and ornamental grasses. These plants require warm soil prior to showing signs of growth.
- Apply Systemic Insect Control to roses in April to prevent insect leaf damage later in the season. We recommend Fertilome Rose & Flower Food with Systemic Insecticide.
- Prune (with hand pruners, such as Felcos) spring flowering shrubs like Lilac, Azalea, Rhododendron and Weigela right after they are done blooming in the spring. Feed them with a slow-release fertilizer (Osmocote) at that time.
- Plant cool weather annuals and vegetables: Pansies, Ranunculus, Lettuce, Radishes, Peas, Carrots, Kale, Arugula, Kohlrabi, and Spinach. Trees, shrubs, and perennials can be planted as long as the nursery stock is acclimated to the outdoors.
Spring Turf Care
- Seed damaged areas in spring if necessary. Rake area first to improve seed to soil contact. Do not apply pre-emergent crabgrass control in reseeded areas as it will keep good seed from germinating. Keep seeded area moist till grass has germinated.
- If not seeding, Apply pre-emergent crabgrass control without fertilizer when the Forsythia blooms. We recommend Hi-Yield Crabgrass Control without fertilizer.
- Begin mowing as needed making sure your lawn mower blades are sharp. To maintain healthy turf, never cut more than 1/3 of the leaf blade off in one cutting.
- Leave grass at 2.5"-3.5" long (3-4” if you have tall fescue). Cutting too short can result in turf stress, poor rooting, less drought tolerance, and more opportunities for weeds and crabgrass to invade. Zoysia grass is an exception to this rule and should be cut at 1”.
Your check list of products from Niemeyer’s: bagged & bulk topsoil, compost, preen, mulch, snips, pruners, crabgrass control, grass seed, vegetable/herb plants & seeds, and a great variety of trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals.