April days are upon us. Those long spring days spent outside in our gardens are ahead of us. The temperatures are warming up and we start to see more and more buds and blooms. Now is the time when our garden to-do lists seem never-ending…and we couldn’t be more thrilled!
There are no days in the whole round year more delicious than those which often come to us in the latter half of April... The sun trembles in his own soft rays... The grass in the meadow seems all to have grown green since yesterday... though there is warmth enough for a sense of luxury, there is coolness enough for exertion.
~Thomas Wentworth Higginson, "April Days”
Check these April gardening tips off of your April to-do lists and check back in with us next month for more!
If our missed March’s list, you can find it here.
Tree Care Tips
- Remove all winter tree wraps to avoid overheating of tree bark
- Wrapping your tree with burlap or tree guard helps you reduce the chances of harsh winter weather ruining the tree’s bark - and keeps the deer from having a nibble. But, once the winter season is done it’s time to say goodbye to the tree wrap. Leaving it on for too long can be harmful to the tree’s trunk and encourage pests and disease. Removing the wrap in April is a good rule of thumb as the likelihood of seeing another frost is low.
Fertilize Shade and Fruit Trees Tips
- Make sure to apply fertilizer to your trees to help them stay healthy. Just like humans, trees need important nutrients to grow and for their overall health. Think of the fertilizer as their daily vitamin. Some trees may need an application again in May. We recommend using G&B Citrus & Fruit Tree Fertilizer for fruit trees and G&B All Purpose Fertilizer for established shade trees and shrubs, we have both products are available now.
Deep Soak Trees And Shrubs, Especially If The Winter And Spring Have Been Dry.
- As temperatures start to warm up in early spring, start deep soaking your trees and shrubs. The ground will likely be dry after winter, so a routine of 1 time per week is good to start.
- Always check the weather first! You don’t need to deep soak during a week that you have significant precipitation. You can always check Conserve Water for their weekly watering guide to see up-to-date watering recommendations for your area.
- If you do need to deep soak, here is what that means:
- 1- Turn your hose on a slow trickle and place it 4-6” from the base of the plant.
- 2- Let the hose run between 10-30 minutes (this will be determined bythe size of the root ball, 2-3 gallons per inch diameter of the trunk.).
- Deep soaking with a hose is the best way to water your new plants, trees, and shrubs to ensure they are getting enough water for the proper establishment of the root system.
Weeding, Pruning, Fertilizing
- Prepare Your Garden
- Get your garden ready for spring by removing any winter mulch from around your perennials and roses. Rake out debris from flower and shrub beds and move shrubs, if necessary, before things start to bud. This will prevent mold and fungus from developing and spreading. Fresh compost can be added to flower beds if the soil has dried out enough.
Prepare for Weeds & Pests 
- Thinking ahead helps you avoid disaster further down the road. In April, systemic insect controls can be applied to shrubs and perennials. Keep the weeds in check by regular weeding before they take and start to spread. Check for and control insect infestations before they become a problem. When controlling pests and weeds, consider using biological controls before other harsher chemical treatments. We carry a large variety of products to help with weed and pest prevention, bring photos of your plants and we’ll make sure you get exactly what you need.
Lawn Care Gardening Tips
- Lawn Preparation
- Early preparation of your lawn will help keep it green with less water use through the season. Rake your lawn to remove winter debris and then aerate. This will reduce the chance of fungus growing, and will allow for the roots to get a head start with a deeper structure that will keep your lawn healthy and strong with less water. Always check your sprinkler system to make sure nothing has broken over the winter. Apply pre-emergent and fertilizer at the end of March and early April unless you plan to overseed your lawn. We recommend Fertilome Weed Free Zone plus Lawn Fertilizer.
Watering Tips
- You actually should not need to water your lawn in March or April unless you are watering in fertilizer. If it does seem particularly dry, water it every two weeks. Again, checking the guide from ConserveWater.Utah is a great way to make sure you’re doing your part to conserve water while giving your lawn the support it needs
Further Reading: Top Three Tips for Maintaining Lawns
Happy gardening to you! heck out our seasonal gardening tips for even more information and come on over to see us with any questions or to grab the products you need to help your lawn and garden thrive
Other useful links and resources:
Gardening It's All in the Family
Creative Gardening Pairings from Monrovia
Spring is here. It is time to care for your ornamental grasses.
Winter Care:
It is best to leave ornamental grasses standing through winter to add interest to the landscape. Grasses in your garden also provide forage for birds and help protect plant crowns against harsh winter weather.
Spring Care:
As new growth begins in early spring, it is an ideal time to groom warm and cool season grasses. Wear gloves and long sleeves as blades can be sharp and inflict wounds similar to but often worse than paper cuts. Begin by tying the dead foliage of large clumps together for easy clean up. For smaller grasses, cut the foliage off so that least 2 to 3 inches remain. For larger grasses, leave 4 to 5 inches remaining.
Divide larger clumps
- Divide larger clumps in early spring before the plant starts to put on much new growth.
- Using a shovel/spade, split off healthy-looking clumps about an inch or two from the plant. When done, lift out the smaller clump, roots and all. Plant grasses in desired location as soon as possible.
- Older clumps that have died out in the center of their crown are often perfect for dividing, but remember to do so after trimming.
Evergreen Grasses:
- Evergreen and semi-evergreen grasses should not be sheared. Groom these grasses wearing rubber gloves.
- Gently run your fingers through clumps to comb out dead blades.
- If your evergreen grass still looks shabby, trim blades by no more the two thirds.
- This will encourage new growth. It may take several months to outgrow this treatment.
For more two excellent articles on trimming ornamental grasses, check out:
Other useful links and resources:
Get Ready for Spring: March Gardening Tips
Creative Gardening Pairings from Monrovia
April days are upon us. Those long spring days spent outside in our gardens are ahead of us. The temperatures are warming up and we start to see more and more buds and blooms. Now is the time when our garden to-do lists seem never-ending…and we couldn’t be more thrilled!
Lawn Care Gardening Tips 
