by Chris Winslow

 

With the sun out, the sky clear, the wind calm, and a temperature in the
seventies, I think we can all agree that the spring of 2010 is turning into
a gardener’s dream.

These are perfect days to turn off the computer, ‘accidentally’ misplace
your cell phone, and generally unplug oneself from all things technological,
turning instead  to the more ancient technologies of the rake, the hoe and
spade. Easter is now behind us, and gone also are the dangers of freezes
and frosts. Here are eight ideas of things to do in your garden this month.  

1. Spring vegetable gardening  Plant those warm season crops. This
list includes beans, black-eyed peas, okra, squash, cantaloupe, tomatoes,
peppers, cucumbers, watermelon, corn, and eggplant. Also lettuce,
radishes, and carrots.

2. Fertilize your garden  Do this organically with compost. Other sources
of nutrition are dried fish flakes and organic fertilizers formulated for garden
use. You can also use liquid fertilizers, such as fish emulsion and seaweed
extracts.
3.Control weeds   Keep them down with mulch and by weeding a little bit
every day.
4. Plant spring annuals  Work some compost into your flower beds and
you will give these new plants just the food they need: begonias, zinnias,
marigolds, petunias, coleus, periwinkle, cosmos, larkspur, portulaca, 
purslane.

5. Plant perennials  Look for the many varieties of drought tolerant and
showy lantanas and salvias. Also blackfoot daisies, skullcaps, purple
coneflowers, black-eyed Susan, plumbagos, columbines, rockrose, ruella,
and verbena.

 6. Ornamental grasses   My favorites: big muhley, coastal muhley and
maiden grasses. For a short grass in a very dry place, try Mexican feather
grass. It is blond, reaches 1.5 foot in height, and  makes a beautiful accent.

 7. Fertilize lawn  Use a slow release organic fertilizer. A 3-1-2 ratio is
best. Allow 10 pounds of fertilizer for every 1,000 square feet of lawn.
Mowing height should be 2.5 inches for St. Augustine grass and 2 inches
for Bermuda and zoysia.

 8. Fertilize shrubs, trees  Mulch with a compost-mulch blend  to provide
nutrients and conserve water. Deep, infrequent watering of shrubs and trees
will encourage deep, drought tolerant root systems. Remember to seal
pruning cuts on oak trees

Enjoy that cool air before summer sets in. (Who knows, it might be next
week.) Be careful with that back. Happy Gardening everyone!