Most gardeners have been out in their gardens for several weeks already. The rest are still searching for their gardens somewhere in their tall, inescapable maze of weeds.
So that you can grow in the know, here’s April’s yard to-dos.
Start thinning excess fruit on apple, apricot, peach, pear, plum, and nectarine trees when they are about 1/2″ in size. Thin fruit to 4- to 5-inch spacing for better flavor and fruit size.
Thin out vegetable plants so that they have enough room to grow. If they are too crowded, the plants will become weak and misshapen.
For bushier plants with more blooms, pinch new growth of begonias, chrysanthemums, dianthus, fuchsias, geraniums, lavender, peperomias and philodendrons.
Consider planting beans, beets, carrots, chard, herbs, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, okra, melons, peas, peppers, radishes, rhubarb, spinach, squash, sunflowers. tomatoes and white potatoes.
If you want more of a challenge, plant cauliflower, celery, eggplant, head lettuce, sweet corn, asparagus, sweet potatoes and cucumbers.
If you are skilled in finding the edible part of one, and if don’t mind going through so much effort to get so little, try planting an artichoke. Artichokes have strict climate requirements, plant sucking aphids, and are prone to getting several viruses, probably even COVID. (Note: I am not a paid spokesman for the National Society of Artichokes).
Perennials to plant: allium, Asiatic lily, aster, astilbe, black-eyed susan, clematis, columbine, coneflower, chrysanthemum, daffodils, daisies, daylily, forget-me-not, geranium, goldenrod, Hellebore, hollyhock, hydrangea, lavender, peonies and roses.
Annuals to plant: bachelor buttons, begonias, calendula, celosia, cosmos, larkspur, marigold, nasturtium, pansies, petunias, primrose, snapdragons, statice, stock, sunflowers, sweet pea and zinnias
A healthy plant that suddenly wilts and dies may be a victim of verticillium or fusarium wilt. Discard the dead plants and replant them in a different area of the garden since these fungal diseases can continue to live in the soil for years. Also, look for resistant varieties with the letters VF after the name
Powdery mildew is widespread year-round in San Diego and thrives in temperatures of 60-80℉. This fungal disease causes yellow blotches on pumpkins, tomato leaves, squash and cucumbers. Dispose of infected leaves. To control, apply neem oil, sulfur, non-toxic horticultural oil or biological fungicides.
Amending = improving the structure of soil. Fertilizing = adding plant nutrients to soil.
Fertilize if, and when, necessary. Excessive fertilizer will harm beneficial soil microbes. , better living through better dirt.
Take a leisurely stroll through a nursery or garden center to see other planting ideas and supplies for your yard. There’s a good chance you’ll spend more than you would normally spend at Costco.
A kinked garden hose is a waste of time, money, and energy. Invest in a good quality hose.
This month’s weather would be ideal for planting citrus, avocados, kiwis, kumquats, pomegranates, cherimoya, guava, mango and ion fruit. Some are challenging to grow, but nowhere as bad as artichokes.
To attract colorful and feisty hummingbirds, keep their feeders full of nectar. To attract butterflies, consider planting milkweed, verbena and aster.
Consider growing summer-blooming bulbs, corms, and tubers, including agapanthus, begonias, caladiums, calla lilies, canna lilies, dahlias, daylilies, gladiolus, iris, lilies and watsonias. Place a tablespoon of a balanced fertilizer (e.g., 10-10-10) one inch beneath each bulb for better blooms.
Plant or prune ground covers to clear dead portions and stimulate new growth — including ice plant, ivy, potentilla and wild strawberry. Drought-tolerant choices include gazania, rosemary and verbena.
Mow lawns to keep the height at about two inches. Don’t remove more than one-third of the green leaf blades at a time, or they will get sunburned.
For beginners, start small when choosing a space for your first garden…max 4’ x 8’. Keep things simple.
Minimize the need to rototill. It destroys soil structure and disrupts the beneficial microbes that live in the soil and interact with plant roots. Rototilling also destroys the earthworm habitat and causes soil to compact once it resettles.
Feed roses to encourage continuous blooms throughout the season. Depending on the weather, water deeply every other week until fall. Prune the spent blooms down to the first five-part leaf to shape the plant.
The weather and the texture of your soil will determine the amount and frequency of irrigation to apply to your garden. Heavy clay soils require less irrigation than sandy loam soils. During periods of long, hot weather, plants need more frequent irrigation than during periods with moderate temperatures.
A soil moisture meter is a handy tool that lets you test your soil to make sure you are providing the optimal moisture level for plant growth. Simply push the 8-inch stem into the soil to measure the soil’s moisture content. No experience is needed, and you don’t even have to be smarter than a fifth-grader to use one.
The benefit of planting organic seeds is that they have adapted to the growing climate naturally, not with the help of synthetic chemicals. This means that the strongest plants are chosen for seed production.
Pricey culinary herbs such as basil, dill, mint and parsley are easy to grow. While many herbs need full sun, mint and parsley will usually perform well in shadier gardens.
Lettuce and spinach are perfect for shadier gardens because the shade protects them from the sun’s heat, preventing them from bolting as quickly.
To naturally repel mosquitos, grow potted citronella plants around your patio, and in the ground around your yard.
Identify the bug or fungus before you spray. Without knowing what it is, you could kill off its natural enemies without killing the pest. Or you might use the wrong product and kill the plant. If you’re unsure, take a sample to a nursery or your cooperative extension service and have them ID it for you. Asking dumb questions is easier than correcting dumb mistakes.
Schmidt is a Poway resident with over 40 years of gardening experience.
