White County
 Gardening
Podcast
March 23, 2011
April Gardening Calendar (4:56 minutes)
Audio/Video Scriptb>
Sherri Sanders
County Extension Agent - Agriculture
It seems spring has sprung! Hello this is Sherri Sanders, County Extension
Agent – Agriculture in White county.
Spring flowering shrubs should be
pruned–only if needed, after spring bloom. Fertilize then as well. Most shrubs
will benefit from one application of fertilizer per year, and spring is a fine
time to apply it. Repeated applications should not be necessary.
As you plant summer color, incorporate a complete fertilizer or a slow
release fertilizer, plant and mulch. To keep annuals blooming their best, make
regular applications of a water soluble fertilizer. Let the soil temperatures
begin to warm up before you sow your annual vines. By mid to late month, sow
seeds of hyacinth vine, moon vine and cypress vines. You may also be able to
find transplants at your local nursery. These vines really kick in and grow
with warm weather, and can give you a beautiful display of flowers from mid
summer on.
A home vegetable garden is a wonderful way to garden, and get fresh produce.
April is one of the best months to plant, since you can basically plant almost
every crop. You have until mid month to plant the cool season veggies - lettuce,
spinach, broccoli, onions; plus you can begin to plant the warm season
vegetables. Snap beans and corn can go in the ground right away, but wait until
mid month for tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. You won’t gain much by early
planting, and growth will kick in once the weather is warmer, and the soil is
warmer. You can speed up the soil warming process by using black plastic mulch,
or simply be patient.
Choose a site that gets a minimum of six hours of
sunlight. Make sure water is nearby, and that the soil is well drained. Add a
layer of compost or similar organic matter and till it into the soil. Broadcast
a complete fertilizer for all crops at planting, and then side dress 6-8 weeks
later.
Springtime gardening often causes us to plant more than we can care
for. The delightful weather leads to all kinds of hopes and dreams. Just
remember that July and August are waiting! Mulching is your best method to
prevent weeds, plus it maintains soil temperature and moisture. Insects and
diseases are just beginning to appear, so monitor your plants and catch them
early.
For additional horticulture information, contact your county Extension
office. This has been Sherri Sanders in Searcy.
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