April 2021
Garden Maintenance
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Examine evergreens for winter burn. Prune out damage after new growth appears.
- Carefully remove winter mulch from planting beds.
- Add organic matter to planting beds.
- Fertilize roses as new growth appears.
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Get you soil tested before any major planting.
- Cut flower stalks on daffodils, hyacinths, and other spring flowering bulbs as the flowers fade. Do not cut foliage until it dies back naturally.
- Divide and transplant fall blooming perennials.
- Learn more about how to attract pollinators to your garden.
Creating a Pollinator Garden Workshop – Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County
Pest Watch
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Be on the look out for spotted lanternfly nymphs.
Spotted Lanternfly Look-alikes – Virginia Cooperative Extension
- Scout and remove tent caterpillar webs.
- Collect and depose of cedar-apple rust galls on junipers.
- Watch roses for signs of rose rosette disease.
Vegetable Gardening
- Plant cold season crops early in the month (i.e. onion sets, lettuce, radishes, spinach, turnips, leeks, etc.).
Vegetable Planing Guide – Cornell Cooperative Extension
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Harden-off seedlings before planting them to reduce transplant shock.
- Start seeds indoors for warm weather vegetables and tender annuals.
- Join the Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers for a virtual workshop on vegetable gardening.
Vegetable Gardening Workshop – Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County
Stop and smell the daffodils!