April is prize planting time of year for gardeners in the mid - Atlantic . In fact , this can be our busiest month as we compete with spring cleanup , dividing , transplanting , weeding , and other leap gardening chores . The bright , gay days and tender leap breezes this month are everlasting for working out of doors and we can be lull into thinking inhuman weather condition is behind us . But it ’s important to stay vigilant for sudden dip in night - time temperatures that can result in deadly overnight frosts .
The average last bounce frost in Albemarle County ( USDA Zone 7b ) broadly speaking occurs between April 15 and April 25 . If a frost is forecast , cover tender new ontogenesis to protect it from frost price . apply a row cover , an old plane , composition board , or even level of newspaper for this purpose . dispatch the covering the next morning so that you do n’t inadvertently “ Captain James Cook ” your plants as daylight temperature warm up up .
As daffodils and hyacinth end up blooming , disregard the heyday stalk all the way of life back to the groundbut leave the foliage in position to conk out back course . This allows the plant life to focalize on storing energy for next year ’s blossoms rather than on developing come heads . The foliage may appear a bit messy , but do n’t braid or wed it up because this may interpose with photosynthesis , which could strike next twelvemonth ’s blossoms .
If leap - flowering light bulb such as daffodils , snow drops , or crocus have become crowded and did n’t produce as many bloom as in retiring eld , that may have in mind they need to be divided . The idealistic sentence to divide these light bulb is after the leaf has died back , which may be June or July . score the location of the flower clomp now while you may still see the fleeceable or yellowing foliage . This will help you commend where the clump is locate , plus it will remind you not to plant something else in the same spot . Make a note to dig up and separate the bulbs once they are abeyant . Either replant them immediately or store them in a cool , dry , well - air out place and replant them in the fall .
Top dress established ornamental flower beds with an inch of compost . For novel flowerbeds , work compost or aged moo-cow manure into the loosened territory before you start to plant . A slow - departure fertilizer and unslaked lime may also be added to the soil if a filth test indicates the motivation for either .
Remove broadleaf wintertime weedsbefore they correct seed . These nerveless - season dope include chickweed , deadnettle , hirsute bittercress , and Lamium amplexicaule . They evolve in later summer or other spill , overwinter in the landscape painting , and bring on flowers and seeds in springiness . you’re able to suppress their maturation in your heyday bed by apply a bed of mulch over bare flat coat or plant a dense ground cover . Weed recognition information and photos are available on a number of extension websites such as Virginia Tech ( weedid.cals.vt.edu ) , University of Missouri ( weedid.missouri.edu ) , or the University of Illinois ( weeds.cropsci.illinois.edu ) .
Divide fall - blooming perennials , such as aster ( Symphyotrichumspecies ) , chrysanthemums ( Dendranthema ) , shasta daisy ( Leucanthemum ) , black - eyed Susan ( Rudbeckia ) , decorative pasture , sneezeweed ( Helenium ) , false aster ( Boltonia ) , and bee balm ( Monarda ) . Most perennials benefit from being divided every three to five years on middling , but if you ’re not sure if a plant should be divided , here are a few question to ask yourself :
If the solvent to any of these question is yes , then the flora belike needs to be divide . endeavor to complete this task at least six week before raging weather sets in so that the partition have rich chance to become well set up .
Another understanding to dissever perennials is to increase gentle wind circulation , which avail curb fungous diseases . For deterrent example , Monarda fistulosa ( or wild bergamot orange ) is rate for its highly redolent flowers that attract pollinator insect such as bee and butterflies , but it is subject to powdery mold . By split up this popular aboriginal works every 3 year to improve air flow and providing it with moist , well - drained soil , a gay site , and ruin all infected foliage , can help keep this uncouth fungal job under control .
Before drudge yap for new plantings , keep in brain the ultimate size of it of each plant . Also , group plants together harmonise to similar needs for water , nutrients , and sunlight . Remember to revise your horticulture records show the positioning of your new planting .
Pinch back chrysanthemum foliagethis month when the plants are about 4 inch high . Pinching makes the flora shaggy-coated , sturdier , and more air current - resistant by and by in the time of year . Tall aster species also benefit from being pinched back for the same reasons . False helianthus ( Heliopsis helianthoides ) is another plant life that profit from being swipe back in spring to reduce the plant ’s height .
At this time of yr , garden marrow are overflow with the best selection of landscape painting plants . Shop for azaleas and rhododendrons while they are in bloomto ensure you care the coloration and that the color harmonizes with your other landscape painting choices . This is particularly important if you are adding new plantings to an effected landscape . Some pinkish selections , for illustration , have an orange or coral undertone that may clash with other spring - flower specie located nearby . Tip : Azaleas more often than not look best implant as a grouping in part sun or filtered shade and acidulent , well drained , organically rich soil with a pH of 5.0 to 6.0 .
As you select unexampled plantings for your garden , avoid industrial plant species that are potentially invasivein this country of Virginia . front for aboriginal plant that downplay sustainment , require less water , and increase home ground , particularly for beneficial dirt ball . A bit of fantabulous aboriginal plant resources are available , such as the Virginia Native Plant Society ’s internet site atvnps.org , the Albemarle County Recommended Native Plants website atwebapps.albemarle.org/nativeplants , or the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation ’s Natural Heritage Program atdcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage . Also , explore back issues ofThe Garden Shedfor a telephone number of articles on native plant suitable for our area .
Buy annual bedding plants such as begonia , petunias , pentas , geraniums , or marigolds while selections are copious . Choose healthy plants with well - developed root system that are not too large for their throne . Do n’t plant them , however , until the risk of icing is past , dark - clip temperatures are systematically above 50 ° F , and soil temperature are above 60 ° F. bet on the atmospheric condition , that may be toward the end of April or even early May . If you just ca n’t wait that long , be prepared to protect those tender seedling from frost if temperatures endanger to wrench chilly .
If you prefer to start bedding industrial plant indoors from seedrather than buy organ transplant from a garden center , you may still sow the seeds during the other part of April if you did n’t get around to it in March . Do n’t draw a blank to season off tender seedlings before planting them outdoors . For the unexampled or inexperienced gardener , Virginia Cooperative Extension ( VCE ) Publication 426 - 001,Plant Propagation From Seed , provides good info on sowing seeds .
Plant some everlasting flower in your cosmetic garden this spring . The condition “ everlasting ” refers to a flush , seedpod , or other plant part that can be dry out or preserved without the personnel casualty of its shape or color . everlasting are used in dry flower arrangements , wreath , bridal bouquets , and many workmanship projects . In addition to Uvularia grandiflora ( Helichrysum ) , baby ’s intimation ( Gypsophila paniculata ) , and statice ( Limonium ) , all of which are well preserved , render experimenting with other flowers such as : Bells of Ireland ( Molucella laevis ) , cockscomb ( Celosia ) , or globe amaranth ( Gomphrena ) .
Do n’t move your houseplants outdoors until nighttime - time temperature systematically stay at 50 ° farad or higher . Depending on the atmospheric condition , this may not hap until very late April or in May . position them in a shaded area on a porch , terrace , or under a tree or wherever they cangraduallyacclimateto the increase light levels . move a houseplant from indoors like a shot out into a gay positioning can burn up the leaves , which will seriously damage the industrial plant .
Before you move your houseplants outdoors for the summer , repot any that are potbound . you may tell a plant life is potbound if :
To repot a houseplant , choose a container that is only slightly larger in size . If the crapper is too expectant , the soil can stay moist for too long , which can cause root bunkum . For additional entropy on houseplant care , see Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication 426 - 100,Indoor Plant Culture , or see the University of Maryland Extension ’s issue onPotting and repotting Indoor Plants .
With the arrival of outflow comes the showtime of the annual conflict with worm , such asleafminers . Leafminers are the larvae of insect species that tunnel within a leaf and raven its inner layers , leaving either twist , snakelike tunnels or brownish blotches , depending on the works and the leafminer insect metal money . Both the larvae and the damage they cause are generally indiscernible until after it is too later . Winding tunnels cause by sawfly insects are commonly found on the foliage of columbine ( Aquilegia ) , Buddy Holly ( Ilex ) , and roses . The damage does n’t actually harm the plant life , but it can depend unsightly . It ’s normally sufficient to snip off the damage leaves or simply ignore the problem if it ’s not too permeative . Other leafminer insect species cause blotchy or blistery - looking damage to plants such as boxwood . See University of Maryland Extension publication , Boxwood : name and Manage Common Problemsfor a verbal description of and management options for box leaf miner . To get word insect , see Colorado State University Extension Fact Sheet No . 5 - 548 andBoxwood Leafminers on Ornamental Plants / Univ . of Md ..
audit Azaleas for lacebugs(Stephanitis pyrioides ) , which overwinter as egg on the underside of infested farewell , then hatch out in springiness . They damage foliation by piercing plant cells with their mouthpart and sucking the leaf dry . await for white or silver looking speckle on the upper leaf control surface . The damage is unsightly , but it wo n’t kill the plant .
Slugs and snails start make their appearancein spring , particularly if the weather has been cool and wet . One very effective control method acting is to blame them by hand , or with tweezers if you ’re squeamish , and drip them into a pailful of oleaginous water to overwhelm . For more information on how to insure slug and snails , see the University of Maryland file name extension ’s issue onSlugs and Snails on Flowers .
see come out Irises for diseases or borer damage . Leaf Spot is one of the more common fungous disease of iris . For selective information on symptom and control of this disease , see VCE Publication 450 - 600,Iris Leaf Spot . Iris borers are another common job . The larvae of this pest feed below the soil level on the rhizomes . eating damage is sometimes not apparent until the industrial plant die or the leaves wilt . Inspect young iris foliage for notch that are cut in the border of center foliage and worthless frass . This is the point where the borer enters the leaf . If you discover the presence of a rock drill cat inside the leaf , crush it with your fingers . Once this ravenous pest burrow to the rootstock , it will core out it out and then proceed to other rhizomes . Bacterial soft rot often follows woodborer hurt and can demolish an entire bed of Irises . The best way to control this blighter is to burn up the leafage or dispose of all all in or damaged leaves in the trash in crepuscle .
And talk of pests , practice deer repellant as vulnerable plants emerge in saltation or take other pre-emptive measures to discourage deerbrowseon tender , succulent young flora growing .
Invasive Watch : Callery or Bradford(Pyrus calleryana‘Bradford ’ ) started blossom in Marchthis year . This invading specie and other ornamental pear started out as pop landscape Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in the sixties and are now considered invasive in 29 body politic . The trees often produce fertile seeds that are easily spread by bird . The seedlings can well set up in disturbed areas , where they are contributing to the shrinking biodiversity of our urban woodland . restraint trees less than 6 ’ tall with a higher - than - usual ( 3 - 4 % ) engrossment of foliar spray . Foliar spray are effective fromwhen leaves emerge in leap until just before they begin to uprise tumble color . For detailed selective information on how and when to eradicate this invasive species , include tree diagram trunk method in the surrender , see the Blue Ridge Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management’sBradford Pear Fact Sheet .
Garlic mustardshould be bump off now before it flowers and set seeds . For more about garlic mustard , seeBlue Ridge Prism.org/Garlic Mustard Factsheet .
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Feature photoof spring - bloomingPhlox divaricata : Pat Chadwick
Monthly Gardening Tips / Gardening Resources / Piedmont Master Gardeners / https://piedmontmastergardeners.org / April
