April Landscaping Tips – OBX to Chesapeake/Hampton Roads
With this cold winter, everybody is itching to get in the yard! Here are a few tips about what you should be doing in outside.
Grass:
- As excited as you may be to see some green, you need to wait at least 3 weeks to fertilize your lawn if you have warm season grass (Bermuda, Centipede, Zoysia, etc.). Don’t fertilize if you have a cooler season grass like Fescue, do not fertilize this time of year. Make sure to clean up any vegetation or other debris in your yard as it may hinder growth and alter the chemical balance in your yard. Once temperatures are consistently above 60 degrees, you will want to seed or plug any bare patches of grass as this will be the optimal time.
Shrubs/Flowers:
- You want to wait at least a few more weeks to prune tender perennials such as oleander, palms and gardenias. These plants are best pruned when daily temperatures are consistently above 60 degrees. Wait until after blooming season to lightly prune spring blooming shrubs such as azaleas. Hold off on hard pruning until fall. Warm annuals are showing up now in box stores – but wait a few more weeks until you start planting. You want to make sure temperatures are consistently above 60 degrees to ensure the plant’s vitality. If you didn’t re-mulch in the fall, now is a good time to do so. Mulching helps your plants retain water and keeps the root systems cooler during the approaching summer months. Go ahead and remove cool season annuals such as pansies and replace with hearty perennials. Again, you want to wait to plant warm season annuals such as petunias, coleus, and impatiens. Divide and replant hardy perennials along with liriope (and other warm season grasses), cannas, and hostas. Plant hearty trees and shrubs. Remember, all plants need to be watered regularly when first planted. Check plants for insects and begin treating for any pests as needed.
Vegetables/Garden:
- Now is the time to finish harvesting and/or remove cool season veggies such as cabbage. Wait until about April 15 to start planting your warm season vegetables (i.e. tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, etc) as you want to be sure the chance of frost is virtually eliminated. Don’t forget to water regularly as watering is one of the most essential requirements for rooting plants!
We hope these tips are helpful regardless of whether you live in Northeastern NC or Southeastern VA. As always, Southern Scapes is here to help with any of your design and landscaping needs!
