Spring is here

Contributed - Apr 17, 2010 / 5:00 am | Story: 53954

April has arrived and now we're looking forward to warmer spring weather and a chance to get into the garden. Here's our checklist to help you get ready for gardening season.

Beginning of April:

Clean and sharpen hand tools such as pruners and shovels.

Sharpen or replace the blade on your lawn mower and buy fresh gasoline.

Ensure that your electrical cords and garden hoses are in good condition.

Repot houseplants if they are pot-bound to give them a good start for the growing season.

Now is a good time to take a look at the bones of your garden before
everything leafs out. This spring consider planting trees or shrubs with
interesting bark or that produce winter berries for late colour as well as
providing food for visiting birds in the depths of winter.

Mid April:

Indoors start the seeds of warm weather plants such as tomatoes, peppers, ageratum, alyssum and marigolds.

Prune fruit trees before new growth begins.

Apply dormant oil sprays to fruit trees and woody plants to control
hibernating insects. Apply it while the buds are swelling, but before the
leaves open out.

Once you're convinced the snow and ice storms are over, remove the
protective winter covers from trees and shrubs.

Plant directly into the garden those vegetable and flower seeds that
prefer cool weather to germinate. For example, carrots, parsley, lettuce, spinach, dill, peas, bachelor's buttons and poppies. Be sure to check and follow instructions on the seed packages.

End of April:

Once the ground has thawed, look for plants that have heaved out of
the soil and resettle them.

Remove winter protection from roses and prune them before they start
to leaf out.

Repair fencing, decks and trellis or lattice work.

Rake up leaves and other winter debris.

Cut back ornamental grasses and the dead stalks from last season's
plants.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

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