What to do in the Garden in March and April
The following are some general ideas for early spring gardening. Keep in mind you have to take the weather conditions into account. Wait until the soil is above 50 degrees to try any planting.
Winter damage:
Clean up and remove leaves and winter debris, which are loaded with phosphorus, from paved surfaces and drainage sewer openings. This helps preserve drainage water quality and reduce algae buildup in our waterways.
The salt residue in soils near a road, sidewalk, or driveway that has been covered with salt laden snow can be diluted by thoroughly soaking the area a few times with a hose. This is only necessary if we don’t have heavy rains.
Snow, wind and ice can cause damage to trees and shrubs. Prune out any damaged branches.
Plants that have “heaved” from the freezing and thawing action of the soil should be replanted as soon as the soil is workable. A layer of leaves will help protect the exposed root mass if the soil is still frozen.
Pruning:
Early spring is the time for pruning many shrubs. The exceptions to this are ones that bloom in the spring like forsythia and lilac. These should be pruned after flowering.
Prune trees with the exception of maple and birch, which bleed. They should be pruned only after their leaves have fully emerged. Never “top” a tree. This produces a weak tree with an unnatural shape.
Fruit trees should be pruned in early spring before bud break. Pay particular attention to any twigs or branches with cankers or black knot (dark swollen galls). These should be removed and discarded before bud break.
Prune brambles (raspberries and blackberries) during March to remove any dead, diseased, or damaged branches and to increase air circulation.
When pruning, be careful not to cut flush to the trunk. Cut outside the branch collar (swelling in bark around the area where the branch meets the tree). For more information on proper pruning techniques contact your local CCE or check out their web information at cce.cornell.edu
Wound dressing or paint is no longer recommended. If properly pruned the wound is best left to heal naturally.
Cut back and prune roses when forsythia blooms. Cut back dead or crossing canes to about one quarter of an inch above an outward facing bud.
Cut pussy willows back drastically after they bloom to keep the plants strong. They will have more blooms next year and will be stronger plants.
Cut back lavender into green wood late in April.
Complete any pruning of other shrubs before new growth starts.
Perennials:
Cut back grasses and other perennials that have been left up for winter interest. Ideally this should be done before the new growth gets more than a few inches high so you don’t damage the new growth while cutting back the old.
Any plant material that has not harbored disease can be put in the compost pile.
Sow coriander, orach, baby’s breath, poppy, phlox, and cornflower seeds directly into garden beds.
Once the threat of snow has passed, remove winter debris or any leftover mulch from around areas where spring bulbs are planted.
Pull emerging weeds by hand so as not to disturb emerging perennials and bulbs. This also prevents new weeds from growing from disturbed soil.
Wait until the soil is “workable’ to divide perennials. This means it should be above 50 degrees and dry enough not to stay in a clump when squeezed in your hand.
Hostas, liriope, daylilies, dicentra, coral bells and shasta daisies are some perennials that can be divided before new growth starts in spring.
Scatter annual poppy seeds in the garden for bloom in June and early July.
Vegetables:
Take the time to plan your vegetable garden taking care to use rotation. Do not plant members of the same plant family (tomatoes and peppers for example) in the same spot as last year.
Indoors, sow tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers. Be sure they will get adequate light.
Direct seed cool season vegetables and flowers when soil is suitable.
Check your seed packages to see whether you should start seeds indoors or direct sow them outside. Also check information on the envelopes for the appropriate number of weeks prior to planting outside.
Houseplants:
Houseplants come to life with the increase in hours of sunlight. This is a good time to resume feeding. Natural fertilizers are preferable to synthetic ones.
Check your houseplants for disease and insects and the roots to see if they need dividing and/or repotting. Once the outdoor gardening season begins you will have less time for them!
Give houseplants a good “shower” in the sink or tub to clean off dust buildup from the winter months. For plants too large to move, give the leaves a sponge bath.
Prune off any dead or yellowing leaves and branches.
Any plants that have outgrown their pots can be repotted. If you want the plant to continue increasing in size just repot it in a larger container. If you want to keep the plant in the same size container the roots can be trimmed back.
General:
Apply horticultural oil to trees and shrubs that have had past problems with piercing and sucking insects such as mites, aphids, scale, whitefly and adelgids. Carefully follow the application directions for temperature and weather conditions. If applied at the wrong time they are not effective. Follow product label instructions closely.
If you didn’t clean, sharpen and check garden tools in autumn do it now. It makes a huge difference in how well they work and how long they last.
If your tiller doesn’t start easily in the spring move it out in the sun for an hour or so. This solar heating will warm up the fluids and make starting much easier. It works for lawn mowers too!
Plant bare-root shrubs and roses while they are still dormant, about 4 weeks before the last expected frost.
Place new birdhouses outdoors and/or clean out older ones.
Take the time to enjoy forced branches indoors. Examples are forsythias, weigelia, and pussywillows.
Don’t turn over your beds until the soil is workable. (Falls apart when you squeeze a handful in your hand).
Mulch can change soil temperature. Consider using black plastic to warm the soil for heat- loving vegetable plants like peppers.
Check stored tubers and bulbs. Discard those that are diseased or decayed.
Scrub and sterilize reusable pots and seed starter trays by washing them in a dilute mixture of warm water and bleach.
Set up a notebook so you can learn from this seasons successes and disappointments.
Plant a tree on Friday April 29 to celebrate National Arbor Day.
If you have not planted herbs previously include them in your garden plan.
Turn your compost pile.
In April remove evergreen boughs from the crowns of your perennials.
Fertilize your spring bulbs when the leaves first appear.
—Carol Ann Harlos & Lyn Chimera, Master Gardeners, Erie County
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