What to do in the Garden in April

Planning

·      Prepare garden soil for spring planting. Add generous amounts of organic materials and other amendments, ideally using the results of a soil analysis as a guide.  Compost can be especially helpful if it is free from weed seed and left on the surface.For more about soil testing, click here.  Also, the Master Gardener help desk can test your pH.

·      Prepare raised beds in areas where cold soils and poor drainage are a continuing problem. Add organic matter if possible.  A wooden or other structure is not necessary, but it prevents soil from slumping out of bed over time.
 For more about raised beds, click here.

 Maintenance and Clean Up

·      Allow foliage of spring-flowering bulbs to brown and die down before removing.



·      Apply compost or fertilizer to cane, bush, and trailing berries.  Mulch to prevent weeds and moisture loss.

  

·      Place compost or decomposed manure around perennial vegetables, such as asparagus and rhubarb.
 Mulch to prevent weeds and moisture loss.

  

·      Optimum time to fertilize lawns, as long as heavy rains aren’t expected. Apply no more than 1 pound nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn. It's safest and kindest to our environment to use organic fertilizer.  Reduce risks of run-off into local waterways by not fertilizing just prior to rain, not over-irrigating, and keeping fertilizer away from drainage or very wet areas.

·      Optimum time of year to dethatch and renovate lawns.  Moss is not a problem for most.  It is green most of the year and never requires mowing or attention.   If you really don't care for it anyway, consider shade tolerant plantings instead or if there is adequate sunlight, add lime and rake soil surface prior to seeding with perennial ryegrass.

·      Prune and shape or thin spring-blooming shrubs and trees after blossoms fade.



 Planting/Propagation 

·      It's a great time to start a vegetable garden. Among the vegetables you can plant now - broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chard, chives, endive, leeks, lettuce, peas, radishes, rhubarb, rutabaga, spinach, and turnips. 

    · See this very helpful publication on growing vegetables. Growing Your Own Guide

Pest Monitoring and Management

·      Use traps or pet safe baits for slug control near susceptible plants.  Read and follow all label directions prior to using any chemical control.

  Did you know that invasive slugs brought from Europe are the ones that damage our plants?  Did you know that some slugs and snails are good for your garden because they are predators of the damaging ones??   For more about slugs, click here.

·      Monitor strawberries and other plants for spittlebugs and aphids; if present, wash off with water.  

Spittlebug

Aphids can be green, yellow, gray, brown, reddish, 

·    

·      Cut or pull weeds near the garden to remove potential sources of plant disease.  These are good to compost if they haven't gone to seed.  Turn pile if they begin to grow.

  

·      Use floating row covers to keep insects such as beet leaf miners, cabbage maggot adult flies, and carrot rust flies away from susceptible crops.

  For more on row covers, see this link.

·      Help prevent damping off of seedlings by providing adequate air flow.



~What to do in the Garden in March~

Planning

•    Plan your vegetable garden for spring, summer, and fall vegetables that can be eaten fresh or preserved.  Container gardening might be a great option if sunny ground space is limited.

•    A soil thermometer can help you know when to plant vegetables. Some cool season crops (onions, kale, lettuce, and spinach) can be planted when the soil is consistently at or above 40F. You can also use this chart to estimate dates.  We are in 'Region 2'.   Planting Date Chart

Maintenance and Clean Up

•       Compost grass clippings and yard waste.  Avoid pesticides (including weed and feed, weed killers, or insect killers).

  If pesticides have been used, do not compost contaminated plant material.

•       Spread finished compost over garden and landscape areas.

  You can screen the compost for a finer appearance if desired.  See this link for tips

•       Prune spring-flowering shrubs after blossoms fade.



•       Fertilize caneberries using a complete organic fertilizer or composted manure.

•       Prune fall-bearing raspberries (in late-February or early-March).



Echinacea purpurea (Purple Cone Flower)

Planting/Propagation

•    Divide hosta, daylilies, mums, and other summer or fall blooming perennials that need dividing.

 See this link for tips.

•    Use stored scion wood to graft fruit and ornamental trees.

  This is an informative article from the University of Minnesota.  Please note that in Oregon we graft earlier in the year.

•    Plant insectary plants (e.g. Alyssum, Phacelia, coriander, candytuft, sunflower, yarrow, and dill) to attract beneficial insects to the garden. See Encouraging Beneficial Insects in Your Garden (PNW550).



•    If soil is dry enough, prepare vegetable garden and plant early cool-season crops (carrots, beets, broccoli, leeks, parsley, chives, rhubarb, peas, onion, and radishes). 

•    Plant berry crops (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, currants, gooseberries, and other berry-producing crop plants). See OSU Extension publications for berry varieties.

Pest Monitoring and Management

•    Protect new plant growth from slugs. Least toxic management options include barriers and traps. Baits are also available for slug control; use with caution around pets. Read and follow all label 

•    Learn to identify the predatory insects that can help keep aphids and other pests under control.

  See this article from Washington State University Extension.

•    Prune densely growing mature ornamental shrubs and trees for air circulation, which helps reduce fungal disease.  See this article from Purdue University about pruning shrubs and trees. 

•    Monitor landscape plants for damage or disease. Don't treat unless a problem is identified. Ask Master Gardeners if you're not sure about whether something is a problem or what to do about it. You can even email us a photo.
(541) 766-6750      4077 SW Research Way, Corvallis, 97333   bentonmg@oregonstate.edu

What to do in the Garden in February

Planning

•    Select and store healthy scion wood for grafting fruit and nut trees. Wrap in damp cloth or peat moss and place in plastic bag. Store in cool place.



•    Plan an herb bed. Choose a sunny spot and plant seeds or transplants once the danger of frost has passed (late-April or early-May).



•    Plan to add herbaceous perennial flowers to your flowering landscape this spring. Ex:  sweet alyssum, yarrow, penstemon, and coneflower.



Maintenance and Clean Up

•    Make a cold frame or hotbed to start early vegetables or flowers.



•    Cut and lightly incorporate cover crops or other organic matter into soil.



•    Prune and train grapes; take cuttings.

  See this link for many helpful publications.
•    Prune apple trees.  See this link for many helpful publications.

•    Prune fruit trees.  See this link.
•    Prune blueberries. Watch a video on blueberry pruning here.

•    Prune deciduous summer-blooming shrubs and trees

•    Prune and train trailing blackberries and black raspberries.



•    Prune fall-bearing raspberries (in late-February or early-March).



Planting/Propagation

•    Plant windowsill container gardens of carrots, lettuce, or parsley.



•    Good time to plant fruit trees and deciduous shrubs. Replace varieties of ornamental plants that are susceptible to disease with resistant cultivars or natives.

•    Plant asparagus if the ground is warm enough.



•    Plant seed flats of cole crops (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts), indoors or in a greenhouse.



•    Where soil is dry enough and workable, plant garden peas and sweet peas.

Pest Monitoring and Management

•    Monitor landscape plants for problems. Don't treat unless a problem is identified.



•    Use delayed-dormant sprays of lime sulfur for fruit and deciduous trees and shrubs.



•    Elm leaf beetles and box-elder bugs are emerging from hibernation and may be seen indoors. They are not harmful, but can be a nuisance. Remove them with a vacuum or broom and dustpan.