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- Crabgrass and other annual weeds can be controlled by cultural as well as chemical methods. Bare soil tends to warm faster than planted soil, so unplanted soil areas should be planted and low mowing should be avoided. Frequent, light watering encourages crabgrass growth, so infrequent, deep watering is recommended.
- If you grow fruit trees for their fruit yields, now is the time to begin your spray schedule to avoid disease and insects.
- Monitor perennial plants as they begin to emerge from the ground. Find plants that may have heaved slightly during the winter and press them back into the ground.
- Take pictures of your spring-blooming bulbs so you'll know what bulbs you will need to buy in the fall and exactly where to plant them.
- Consider applying corn gluten meal to your lawn as an organic herbicide and nitrogen fertilizer. It inhibits weed seeds from germinating and has a natural nitrogen content.
What to Plant
- It's not too early to plant cool-season annuals, like pansies, snapdragons, sweet alyssum, calendula, Iceland poppies and ranunculus, in your garden beds and in containers.|
- Plant transplants and seedlings of cool-season vegetables.
Garden Maintenance
- Start to remove winter mulch from roses. Roses are heavy feeders, so regular fertilization is important. Start by topdressing soil around bushes with an organic, slow-release fertilizer, such as Milorganite or fish meal.
- If your peonies suffered from leaf spots last year, they will likely benefit from an application of an approved fungicide.
- Crabgrass begins to germinate when soil temperatures reach approximately 60 degrees for 7 consecutive days. Therefore, pre-emergent weed and crabgrass products should be applied before this time. Follow label directions carefully.
- Fertilize spring bulbs after they bloom. Remove spent blooms, but resist the temptation to cut back the foliage. Removing foliage prematurely will deprive the bulbs of much-needed nourishment for their next bloom cycle.
Horticultural specialist Kathie Hayden is a supervisor of volunteer Master Gardeners working in the Plant Information Service department of the Chicago Botanic Garden. The service provides diagnosis and options for control of insects, diseases and cultural disorders, as well as plant recommendations and identifications. (847) 835-0972, www.chicagobotanic.org
