Once the muckiness disappears in April and the ground becomes workable you can begin prepping your old beds for the new season.
1. Prepare Beds for Spring
First, scratch up the old mulch to remove clumps and to re-distribute the existing mulch. This lets you evaluate how much new mulch you need. When you order mulch, keep in mind that you generally need about one cubic yard of mulch for every 135-170 square feet of bed. Additionally, never have mulch thinker than 4 inches, as this can cause fungus growth.
After you get the mulch but prior to spreading it, cut new edges on all the beds. This will keep your beds looking crisp and new into fall. The benefits of a modest layer of mulch is that it conserves moisture, keeps root zones cooler, and inhibits weed growth.
2. Watch for Insects
Start scouting for insect problems in early April such as Eastern Tent caterpillar, Aphids, Lace Bug, and Saw fly. These bugs might cause damage to your trees or garden depending on what you grow. Early intervention can reduce or eliminate pest issues later in the year.
3. Prune your Plants
Plants that should be pruned before new growth are usually ones that bloom in summer and on new wood. Some plants on this list include: Butterfly bush, Crape myrtle, P.G. hydrangea, all Spirea except Bridals Wreath, and Wisteria to name a few.
4. Lawn Seeding
Over-seeding of lawns and bare spot repair are best accomplished in April. Lawn over-seeding can be done most effectively with a power slicer-seeder which is available at any rental company. If just repairing bare spots, the ground should be roughed up first. The seed choice should be relative to the amount of sun/shade the area receives. And, whenever applying seed, you should also be fertilizing with a starter fertilizer. The final and most important step in post seeding is proper watering of the area.
5. Plant Flowers at the Right Time
Summer flowering bulbs should be planted in April. They benefit the best from the temperature, usual weather patterns, and wildlife at this time.
Examples of flowers to plant in April are: Gladiolus, Allium, Lillium, Galtonia, and fall crocus.
Time to start caring for your landscaping! If you need a professional to handle any of these April landscape tips for you, Diebolt can help you build your own dream landscaping from Wyomissing to Allentown to Lancaster. Contact us to get started.