Today in the Garden

Walter Reeve's Garden Calendar

FIRST WEEK

• Divide over-wintered baskets of Boston fern into four sections. Plant new hanging baskets using two sections of fern in each.

• Green grass in a Bermuda lawn is probably Poa annua (annual bluegrass). You can try digging it out but, better yet, make a mental note to put out weed preventer next September.

• Plant dahlias, elephant ear, gladiolus and caladiums now.

• Prepare spots where you intend to sod by first killing all weeds present. Use glyphosate (Roundup) or glufosinate (Finale).

• Examine the backside of euonymus and holly leaves for the white crust that signifies scale insects. Thoroughly spray leaves with horticultural oil.

SECOND WEEK

• It is safe to plant tomatoes, peppers and eggplant in your garden now that the soil is warm.

• Remove withered flowers from florist’s azaleas you receive for Easter to prolong their blooming.

• Move houseplants outdoors gradually. Never place them in full sunshine; filtered shade is best.

• It’s never the wrong time to lime your lawn. Forty pounds per 1000 square feet is approximately enough but a soil test can tell you exactly what you need.

• Spray azaleas with insecticidal soap if you have had azalea lace bug problems in the past.

THIRD WEEK

• Remove guy wires from your fall-planted trees. Trees that move with the wind grow stronger than those supported for more than a few months.

• Plant Easter lilies outdoors after removing their faded blooms.

• Mulch tomatoes immediately after planting to prevent early blight fungus from splashing from the soil onto the leaves.

• “Flowering Annuals for Georgia Gardens” is a free booklet available at your local Extension Service office. Call 1-800-ASKUGA-1 to get local office phone numbers.

• Water houseplants more frequently with the onset of more hours of sunshine and new green leaves. Begin monthly feedings with houseplant fertilizer.

FOURTH WEEK

• Plant the seeds of annual flowers such as marigold, cosmos, zinnia and celosia. Mix lots of soil conditioner in beds to help them be drought tolerant.

• Hang garden chimes on a tree branch so the wind keeps them constantly tinkling.

• Plant corn, bean and pea seeds now. Use a soaker hose to water vegetable rows – you’ll prevent disease and weeds plus save water.

• Sharpen or replace your mower blade now that lawn grass has begun growing rapidly. Check the mowing height on a flat surface.

• Look for aphids clustered at the tips of fast-growing crape myrtle branches. Blast them off with a water hose and give a ground-dwelling spider a nice lunch.

For more information, contact: rose@DunwoodyGardenClub.com