Lawns
Warm Season Grasses
Bermuda and Zoysia
When the grass begins to green up, set the mower to cut at 1 ½ inch. If possible, dethatch the lawn to stimulate root growth. Fertilize the lawn with 5-5-15 just before the second pre-emergent application. Be weather aware, if too much nitrogen is used and an unexpected frost hits, it can damage the turf. Water lawns in the morning with 1 inch of water per week (unless raining) to prevent disease.
Mow frequently enough so that no more than 1/3 of the grass blade is cut.
Take a soil test in March-April to determine the correct nutrients needed for your lawn.
Cool Season Grasses
Kentucky Bluegrass
April: Since this is a cold season grass, set the mower deck height to cut the grass at a height of 3-3.5 inches to prevent the grass from wilting/burning up. If mowed frequently, there is no need to remove grass clippings.
April-July: Apply a 15-5-10 weed and feed fertilizer to reduce broadleaf weeds while providing the correct balance of nutrients. Use 1 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet. Water lawns in the morning with 1 inch of water per week (unless raining) to prevent disease.
Take a soil test in March- April to determine the correct nutrients needed for your lawn.
Tall Fescue
March-May: Since this is a cold season grass, set the mower deck height to cut the grass at a height of 3 inches to prevent the grass from wilting/burning up. If mowed frequently, there is no need to remove grass clippings. No fertilization is needed in this time period. Water lawns in the morning with 1 inch of water per week (unless raining) to prevent disease. Apply pre-emergent herbicides as necessary to control weeds.
Take a soil test in March- April to determine the correct nutrients needed for your lawn.
Annuals
- Set out annual flowers after tax day. Fill the backs of sunny flowerbeds with tall annuals such as sunflowers, cosmos, or tithonia.
Perennials
- Fertilize perennial flowers now as growth is beginning. If you haven’t pruned perennials, do so now before the new growth makes it difficult.
- Plant summer bulbs such as daylilies, gladiolas, crinums, and gingers.
- Avoid cutting foliage of narcissus (daffodils) or other spring bulbs until the tips have turned yellow or brown naturally. Foliage should easily pull off. If not, wait a little longer!
Shrubs and Trees
- Finish planting trees, shrubs, and perennials before the weather gets hot.
- Prune spring flowering shrubs after flowering.
- Fertilize azaleas and camellias.
- Watch for insects and diseases on roses.
- Remove old flower heads from roses. Carefully water new plantings of shrubs and trees applying less than 1” per week if needed.
Fruits and vegetables
- Resist planting warm season summer veggies until at least the last frost date of April 15th! The chance of a late frost is still high, and warm days can be deceiving.
- If you haven’t already done so, sow seeds indoors for eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes.
- Establish new plantings of fruit trees, grapes, strawberries, raspberries, asparagus, and rhubarb.
- Keep “hilling up” potatoes, mulch potatoes with 6 inches of straw.
- Wait until late April to warm season seeds, slips, and transplants.
- Plant sweet corn each week for a staggered summer harvest.
Miscellaneous
- Plan new landscaping projects on paper first. Be sure you know the mature size of each plant and light exposure to allow for growth and growing conditions.
- Add organic matter to soil to improve soil and drainage. You may do this by applying a top layer
- Mulch planting areas to minimize the need for weeding.