April Garden Guide

gillnurseryMonthly Garden Guide

Lawn Care

Fertilize when the grass is actively growing.

Treat organically with Medina Growin’ Green or Milorganite. Organic lawn food is best for long-term root and soil health.

Water in well (approximately 30 minutes per area).

Eliminate broadleaf weeds.

Treat with Ortho Weed B Gon for Southern Lawns for broadleaf weeds, Image for grassy weeds and sticker burrs.

Water lawn 2 days prior to application.

If you treat for weeds, wait 3 weeks before you fertilize.

Read: Time to Fertilize and Get Rid of the Weeds!

Lay new sod.

Lay new sod or plant Bermuda seed anytime this month.

Read: St. Augustine Turf Grass: Varieties We Sell and Their Characteristics

Water:

Only water every 7 to 14 days if we don’t get rain.
Water deeply (1”per area.)
It’s best to water in the morning. This helps to reduce problems with fungus.

Set your sprinkler:

For best lawn health in clay soil, sprinklers should be run for short times but repeated several times in the same morning, so water can soak in before more water is added. Water deep to train roots to go deep.

Read: If You Have a Lawn Irrigation System


Plant

Late spring/summer blooming annuals and perennials:

For sunny areas:
Zinnias, periwinkles, moss rose, purslane, lantana, blue daze, false heather, salvia, ice plant, gomphrena, ruellia, coreopsis, and pentas.

Read: Create Your Own Butterfly Garden

marigolds Zinnia

moss-rose Moss Rose

gomphrena Gomphrena

coreopsis Coreopsis

For shady areas:
Shrimp plant, ageratum, agapanthus, caladiums, coleus, begonia

shrimp-plant Shrimp Plant
ageratum Ageratum
agapanthus Agapanthus
caladium Caladium
Vegetables

Seeds:
Okra, beans, black eyed peas, watermelon, ornamental gourds, cantaloupe

Transplants:
Peppers, cucumbers, squash, eggplant, okra

Indoor Plants

Pro Tips for Houseplants

  • If your houseplant looks unhappy, think location first. It may need to be moved to a different spot with different lighting.
  • Keep them away from the AC vents (they like humidity and the AC dries them out)
  • General rule for watering; water well then re-water once the soil feels dry to the touch
  • Spring is time to start fertilizing your houseplants. Your plants will love organic Hasta Gro
  • If they are getting too big for their pots, bump up to a slightly larger pot. Watch video

          Read: Plants, the Perfect Rx for Clean Air, Pro Planting Tip: Not Too Deep


          Fertilize

          Established citrus trees:

          (3 years or older)

          Fertilize organically with Citrus Tone, Medina Growin’ Green, Hasta Gro, Plant Tone, or conventionally with Ammonium Sulfate 21-0-0.


          Azaleas, gardenias, and magnolias:

          Fertilize organically with Maestro Gro-Rose Glo, or Espoma Azalea Tone.


          Annuals and perennials:

          Fertilize organically with Medina Growin’ Green,  Hasta Gro, Maestro Rose Glo, PlantTone, or conventionally with Hibiscus Food.

          Established roses:

          Treat organically with Maestro Rose Glo, PlantTone, or conventionally with Hibiscus Food


          Trees and shrubs:

          Fertilize trees organically with Medina Growin’ Green or Milorganite. Feed shrubs organically with Medina Growin’ Green, Plant Tone, or Liquid Hasta Gro. 


          Warm weather vegetables:

          Fertilize organically with Medina Growin’ Green, Hasta Gro, Maestro Rose Glo, or Plant Tone.


          Prune

          Early spring bloomers:

          Early spring bloomers: Including azaleas, indian hawthorn and caroline jessamine – wait to prune until AFTER they bloom

          Hedges:

          Trim hedges as needed to maintain good form.

          Poinsettias:

          Prune to approximately 12” tall.


          Watch Out For

          Watch out for pest outbreaks on everything from vegetables to trees. They should be out in full force and hungry. Watch for powdery mildew and blackspot on roses.

          Read: With The Spring Flush Comes Insects

          Caterpillars:

          Treat organically with Spinosad or Thuricide, or conventionally with Cyonara.

          Read: Caterpillar Alert!
          Read: Are Your Bougainvilleas Being Chewed?

          Scale:

          Treat organically with Neem Oil Spray or Spinosad Soap, or conventionally with Cyonara.

          Beetles, Aphids:

          Treat organically with Spinosad Soap or Diatomaceous Earth, or conventionally with Cyonara.

          Read: Does Your Hackberry Have Wooly Aphids?

          Snails, slugs and pillbugs:

          Treat organically with Sluggo Plus.

          Read: Snails and Beer!

          Fungus, Powdery Mildew:

          Treat organically with Neem Oil or Revitalize Fungicide 5, or  conventionally with Fertilome Broad Spectrum Fungicide, Systemic Fungicide

          White Fly:

          Treat organically with Insecticidal Soap, Neem Oil or conventionally with Cyonara.


          Mulch

          Apply mulch around trees, flowerbeds and vegetable gardens to reduce weeds and help retain moisture.

          We recommend: Cypress, hardwood, black velvet, and pine straw mulch. These reduce weeds well and will not float away.

          Hardwood Mulch

          Cypress Mulch

          Pine Straw Mulch