April showers bring May flowers. Also, they bring the time to get serious about planting your flower and vegetable gardens. Be sure and remove all mulches. Either place in your compost pile or do away with it entirely. Work the fine mulch, rotted finely, into the soil. Break up any clumps which may be present. Get your sprayer and spray materials ready for use. Check your shrubs and trees for any insects or eggs that may be present. If you have cedar trees, check for gall and destroy, as it will spread to your peach trees.
Save yourself some trouble later by spraying your phlox, delphinium, larkspur, roses, or hollyhocks before the foliage comes out. Be sure and dust at least twice a month during the growing season to prevent mildew on your plants.
Houseplants may need repotting now, especially if they have overgrown their pots.
Bonemeal is a good fertilizer for your houseplants. Use the finest grade usually labeled “bone flower.” Mix it with the coarser type later on when your plant begins to bloom. It is best to use a liquid fertilizer on your houseplant. A good one is liquid manure. You can make this potion by using a can or a bucket and placing the manure in it and adding water. A spoonful or two, depending on the size of your plant, will be plenty to feed your plant weekly. Follow directions if using commercial fertilizers. Remember, use small amounts when the plant is small and growing and add as needed as it matures and begins to bloom.
Wood ashes are also good to provide potash to the plants, such as roses and veggies, that many need potash to grow successfully. Again, use it sparingly by dusting it on the soil and working it in.
Keep the soil in the pot, or in the ground around the plant, loose so that the roots can get air and moisture as needed. This will help your plant to grow well and produce for you. This will also help you with the weed problem, as it will eliminate many weeds from taking hold and robbing your plants of the nutrients they need to grow and produce their fruit.
Till next time... Let’s play in the dirt.
