Thank goodness for the rain! But we are this spring is so much
drier than usual keep an eye out for signs of drought stress in your garden. Many
broadleaf evergreens (Rhododendrons, Pieris, etc.) have die back, browning or
yellowing of flowers or leaves from this drought stress. Also, some perennials
or deciduous plants are wilting again from the dry soil. Supplemental watering
for these plants is recommended. Here are some tips to get your garden
underway:
If you have dense clumps of snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) which
did not bloom this spring, gently dig them up while their leaves are still
visible, divide and replant giving them more room. Also, take pictures of your
clumps of daffodils (Narcissus) and Tulips now so that come fall when they are
dormant, you can remember the areas of your garden where you want to add more
bulbs or relocate your bulbs.
Consider increasing your shrub border and reducing lawn area. A well-designed shrub border can provide
4-season interest with less maintenance and less water us than a typical lawn.
Start your vegetable garden with spinach, lettuce, carrots and
radish seeds. If you have not grown vegetables before, consider growing your
vegetables in containers, which can be more easily monitored and work your way
up to an in-ground plot.
The best way to keep weeds out of your lawn is to keep your lawn
grass healthy. Tune up your mower (sharpen the blades so they don’t tear the
grass), rake, fertilize and apply limestone every three years. Add some
limestone to your Lilacs (Syringa)
and Lavendar (Lavandula) too.
Saturday, April 28 is Dedham Civic Pride “Clean Up Day” check
their website for more details http://www.dedhamcivicpride.org/.
The best way to keep weeds out of your lawn is to keep your lawn
grass healthy. Tune up your mower (sharpen the blades so they don’t tear the
grass), rake, lime and fertilize. And if you are looking for an organic way to
green your lawn and protect its roots from disease causing fungi I have seen
excellent results with Actino-Iron.
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| Brunnera "Mr. Morse" - very similar to B. "Jack Frost" |
Arbor Day is April 27 – Plant a tree this month in honor of Arbor
Day! I usually talk about flowering trees but there are lots of wonderful shade
trees too.
Perennial Plant of the year is Brunnera “Jack Frost” a great shade
plant.
Check your Hemlocks (Tsuga
canadensis and Tsuga caroliniana)
for the wooly adelgid. Look along the
underside of branches for fluffy white matter.
These are the eggs. If you find
some on your trees you can treat with Horticultural oils (which are safe for
humans and wildlife) on dry days when the weather is over 45’, or consult a
certified arborist.
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| Viburnum x pragense - this genus of shrubs seems largely unaffected by the Wintermoth caterpillar. |
The
Wintermoth caterpillar is active again, and munching away at the leaves of
Maples, Crabapples, Cherries and other trees. This destructive little green
caterpillar, which looks very much like an inchworm, can defoliate your trees
in a very short period of time. If you
suspect your trees are infested or you had trouble with them last year, contact
your arborist or landscape professional for assistance. There are organic
treatments to control this non-native pest.
