As we move into April, spring has begun and here are a few garden reminders to consider.

• Using a lawn mower set at a higher setting, or hand pruners, trim off old growth on liriope or mondo grass.
• Look for new shoots on perennials and biennials and remove dead and diseased growth. Adding an organic fertilizer and mulch around these plants will give them an extra boost.
• Think about planting some of the summer-flowering bulbs such as dahlias, cannas, gladiolas, and caladium to give your garden a little extra color.
• Spring is the recommended time to plant dogwood trees in our area.
• Prune shrubs and small trees that bloom on the current season’s growth like buddleia (butterfly bush), abelia, Rose of Sharon (hibiscus syriacus), roses, crape myrtle and chaste tree (vitex).
• Hold off pruning spring-flowering trees and shrubs until after they bloom; these include azalea, spirea, forsythia, viburnum, and quince.
• Begin preparing your vegetable garden by having a soil test done, adding compost and fertilizer as indicated by the results of the test.
• Now is the time to start planting warm-season vegetables. Check Virginia’s Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide: Recommended Planting Dates and Amounts to Plant for your zone for recommended crops.
• Following the guidelines from Virginia Cooperative Extension, fertilize young fruit trees three times, weed, and mulch to reduce competition for available moisture and nutrients.
• Prepare your lawn by taking a soil test every three years to determine how much or whether lime and/or fertilizer are needed. Weeds should also be controlled.
• Inspect your shrubs and trees for overwintering pests such as scale. Apply a horticultural oil according to label directions.
• And lastly, take a few minutes to walk around your garden and enjoy the sights and smells of spring because as you know, summer is just around the corner.

Resources

• “Gardening In Southeastern Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina,” by Robert Stiffler, 1995.
• “Master Gardener Handbook-A Guide to Gardening in Virginia,” Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2015 edition.
• Hardiness Zone 8a Recommended Planting and Harvest Dates