April Gardening Tips

April Gardening Tips

One of the nicest months in the southwest. (if the wind is not blowing)
You may plant just about anything such as tomato plants, fruit trees
shade trees, evergreen shrubs, flowering shrubs, bulbs etc. It is also
the month that garden centers usually are fully stocked, at least in
the southwest.

Fertilize your bermuda or warm season grasses at this time if you have
not done so in late March. You may also fertilize your fescue, rye, or
bluegrass (cool season) lawns if it has been more than 6 weeks since
you've last fertilized. 16-8-8 with iron, zinc, and sulphur works well
if you do not have a problem with weeds. This can be used on both warm
season and cool season grasses at this time of year.

If you have oleander, now is the time to cut back any winter damaged
leaves or stems it may have suffered from the cold. Shear oleander if
you want them to look full and bushy or you may selectively prune
branches to give it a more open and air look. You may also prune them
into multi-trunked trees, which look quite picturesque when mature.

Lantana plants may be just coming out of their dormant period at this
time. It is best to pull away any mulch that may be around the base of
the crown, to allow the sun to heat up the soil and allow it to "wake
up" from it's winter sleep. Don't let these plants fool you, they may
look dead, but 9 times out of 10 they are just dormant. They need quite
a bit of heat to start growing. Be patient!

Roses may should still be in stock at this time and take well to being
planted at this time. For existing roses, fertilizing is key. I
recommend a water soluable fertizier such as Peters Tm 20-20-20 every
other week, for healthy foliage and multiple blooms. In addition to
this use a soil acidifier such as Ironite Tm or Grow More Tm organic
chelated iron. These products help keep foliage dark green and give
flowers more vibrant colors.

Feed all trees, and shrubs at this time. There are many product to
choose from. It is best to look for a product that is easiest for you
to use. Most plant will respond to just about any kind of fertilizer as
long as it is applied correctly. Stop by and we can help take any
confusion out of this situation, or you can e-mail or call.
505-523-1520

Thanks from

Gary Guzman

Lots of new stuff at: guzmansgreenhouse.com