April

There’s nothing worse than starting a joyous month like April with a warning – but here I go!

Resist the urge to put tomatoes and basil in the ground before the soil is sufficiently warm and the nighttime temps are still plunging into the low forties!

We are all incredibly anxious to get our plants going, and those occasional warm days are so, so tempting, but plants like tomatoes, and particularly basil, are vulnerable to the vagaries of spring weather. Try to be patient and wait to plant after at least the middle of the month or when the weather is consistently warm. If you just can’t help yourself, try creating a temporary greenhouse by cutting off the bottom of a plastic milk jug and placing it over the young plant. These jugs create a friendly microenvironment that might get the plant through a cold night.

If your green thumb is itching for action, get out there and weed (yes, every month is a time for weeding!!), clean up dead leaves, and trim back unsightly twigs and branches. This is also a time for pruning flowering shrubs and for cutting back deciduous clematis once they have at least two new sprouts. You can also divide overcrowded perennials and plant seeds for both indoor germination and direct planting in tilled earth (read the seed packet for directions).

This time of year, you can plant (I’m not a complete spoilsport!) beautiful perennials, lots of annuals, and don’t forget the bulbs for summer bloom.

For that brilliant summer color we all crave, Iris, Gladiolus, Asiatic and Oriental lilies, Dahlias, and Freesia are just a few of the bulbs to consider. You can also plant herbs, cucumbers, beans and corn, just to name a few.

One of the best strategies for planting at the right time, is simply to ask your local nursery worker for their recommendations. These hard-working folks are experienced and knowledgeable, and most are tuned into the local climatic conditions.

Call me at 707.753.1445 for your free 30-minute consultation.