Radio Show Recap
Noelle filled in for Angelo this week and shared some fantastic perennials, trees, and shrubs that can be planted now. She also shared advice for protecting plants from Deer, and preventing insect issues.
Noelle’s Plant Suggestions:
- Serviceberry (Amelanchier) – several varieties, cream blooms
- Small Magnolias – Little Girls series ‘Ricki’, ‘Ann’ & ‘Susan’
- Perennial Bachelors’ Buttons (Centaurea) ‘Amethyst Dream’, blue-violet C. montana & white w/ purple, fuzzy, deer resistant, smells like peaches
- Perennial Alyssum – golden, mounded groundcover
- Columbine (Aquilegia) – lots of colors pink, blue, red, purple
- Creeping Phlox – native, bud and bloom now, pink, blue, striped, purple
This week in your lawn & garden:
- Bringing out fig trees | Wait for low temps consistently above 32 degrees. Start on a cloudy day, and gradually increase sun exposure over two weeks. Protect by moving indoors or covering with frost cloth in the event of a frost alert. When fresh green growth begins to emerge, feed with Plant-tone® and Iron-tone®. SHOP Plant Foods
- Seeding the Lawn | It’s a great month for seeding projects. To over-seed, mow low, rent a de-thatcher, sink its blades 3/4″ deep, run it both ways, and clean up the debris. Then apply grass seed, Lightning Lime™, and fertilizer (Scotts® Step 1 for Seeding), and water it in. READ Seeding the Lawn
- Preventing Crabgrass | There’s still time to prevent annual crabgrass from sprouting in the lawn, but it needs to be done asap because soil temperatures are warming, which is perfect for germination of this annual weed seed. Apply Scotts® STEP® 1 (use STEP 1 “for seeding” if planning to sow grass seed this season). SHOP Crabgrass Preventer
- Starting Veggie Seeds | It’s a good time to start seeds indoors for heat-loving veggies & flowers like tomato, squash, eggplant, melon, and cucumber. With 4-6 weeks left before last frost, seedlings have plenty of time to establish and acclimate before it’s time to transplant outdoors mid/late May. WATCH Seeding Warm Crops
- Preparing Garden Soil | Before you plant any veggies & herbs, take the time to build or replenish nutrients in your soil. Till in any winter wheat or cover crops you’ve been growing since last fall. Add organic compost, Sweet Peet®, Petitti Planting Mix, and Soil Perfector™, if heavy clay soil conditions are present. READ How to Prepare the Soil
- Deterring Deer | Deer are feeding on newly emerging plants. Sprinkle Plantskydd® granules around plants as they sprout, and switch to misting with Plantskydd® spray, once leaves have flushed out. LEARN MORE About Deer Resistant Gardening
- Planting Trees & Shrubs | Plant according to Angelo’s 6 Steps for Success, using Bio-tone® starter fertilizer, for best establishment and healthy growth. Install plants to a depth that’s 2-3″ above the grade of the bed, which helps with drainage. READ 6 Steps for Success
- Protecting Ornamental Trees & Shrubs | Prevent common problems!
- Protect your roses from pests and disease by applying Rose-Rx® Systemic Drench or Bonide® Rose Shield™ now.
- Protect ornamental trees (and Japanese Maples) by applying Bonide® Annual® Tree & Shrub Insect Control after blooming is done
- SHOP Insect & Disease Controls