April is a busy month for gardening. Now is the time to top dress with compost, refresh mulch (2-3 inches is ideal), check irrigation systems, prune spring flowering shrubs (forsythia and quince) after they bloom and pull weeds while they are small. Clean your pruners between plants to prevent the possible spread of disease. Trim back any perennials left from Fall and take stock of your landscape to see where you’d like to add or subtract plants and yard ornamentation.
If you have a food garden now is the time to direct sow seeds of peas, radishes, beets and lettuce early this month. Wait until after the chance of frost has passed to direct sow cucumber, squash, okra, melon and corn. Also wait until later this month for transplanting tomatoes, okra, eggplants, cucumbers and squash from pots to the garden. You may direct sow flower seeds, like zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, marigolds, nasturtiums, and morning glories in April. Check seed packages for ideal soil temperatures as many of the flowers will prefer that you wait until later in the month when the evening temperatures rise.
We field phone calls in April from customers asking what variety of hydrangea is blooming this month – it’s actually a snowball viburnum. This viburnum is gorgeous, with large, round, blooms that start green and change to white that look very similar to mophead hydrangeas. We have several varieties of Spring blooming viburnums in different mature sizes that will suit your space. The dogwoods, redbuds and cherry trees are also in bloom. Azaleas and rhododendrons are at their peak with colorful flowers. Loropetalums are pushing their fringy flowers. I encourage you to plant a loropetalum variety that suits your location – we have many dwarf varieties that never require pruning, which allows them to flower profusely in Spring, attracting our early hummingbird scouts. We also have medium and large growing varieties.
Tulips, daffodils and hyacinths need to be planted in Fall for a bright Spring show. Mark your calendar now and plant these bulbs in October to November. Perennials will begin their flowering season in Spring – some, like hellebores are winding down. Hellebores have 4 seasons of interest, so feel free to add them now to your shady beds. Stop by our perennial courtyard to see all the new plants we’ve grown for your landscapes. We also have your tried-and-true favorites.
The combination of blooming dogwoods, cherries, and redbuds along with azaleas is one of the most beautiful views in Georgia. Continue the show with later blooming perennials and shrubs to provide a longer period of color. Our landscape designers can help you achieve 4 seasons of interest. Set up an appointment and allow them to take your landscape to the next level.
Spring is bursting into color all over the nursery. Our home décor is fresh, our plants are ready to be placed in the ground, and our activities are posted and filling up. Check our website and register early. Stop by and say hello to our team members. Show us your photos – we love to see how you and your families are enjoying your yards.
Happy Spring,
We’ll see you in the garden center!