Gardening Tips by John Begeman: April Gardening Calendar

	Arid-Southwestern Gardening Information *Gardening Tips by John Begeman*


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Index : April Gardening Calendar

1. Protect young plants from wildlife

2. Look for aphids

3. Add color to your landscape

4. Thin fruit

5. Plant vegetable seeds

6. Apply chelated iron

7. Plant new citrus trees

8. Citrus fruit drop

1. Protect young plants from wildlife - Top

Protect young plants from wildlife. The best way to keep out critters is to fence them out with poultry or woven wire fencing. If rabbits are you problem, use one-half inch poultry wire. Cage individual plants or entire plantings. The wire fencing should be two to three feet high. Stake the fencing to keep it standing up. If you have problems with ground squirrels or chipmunks you'll need to use fencing with smaller openings; one-quarter inch woven wire. Cap the top of the fence with woven wire as ground squirrels and chipmunks can climb. Keep the fencing up until plants become more mature and less appealing to wildlife. - Updated: April, 2002

2. Look for aphids - Top

Look for aphids feeding on the new growth of vegetable plants, flowers, roses, oleander, fruit trees and shrubs. These small soft-bodied insects come in a variety of colors but are most commonly green, yellow, or yellowish green. They feed by sucking plant fluids from new foliage. In the process, they cause a curling and yellowing of the leaves. Aphids can be controlled by spraying the leaves with a strong spray of water, or with a soap spray made by mixing one tablespoon of any liquid dish washing detergent in one gallon of water. Be sure to spray both the top and bottom of the leaves. - Updated: April, 2002

3. Add color to your landscape - Top

Add color to your landscape with the planting of summer season annual flowers. The best heat tolerant flowers include; zinnia, marigold, portulaca (moss rose), Madagascar periwinkle, celosia (cockscomb), red and blue salvia, dusty miller and cosmos Some other choices for morning sun only include; geranium, gomphrena (globe amaranth), dahlias, and red salvia. Prior to planting, prepare the bed by mixing in lots of organic matter. Compost, peat moss, or aged manure are great sources of organic matter available in bags at local garden centers and nurseries. After planting, mulch the flower bed with shredded cedar mulch to conserve moisture and discourage weeds. - Updated: April, 2002

4. Thin fruit - Top

Thin fruit of deciduous trees such as apple, peach, plum and apricot. Pick the small fruit off, so that the fruit are spaced 6 inches apart. Also thin grapes by removing one-third to one-half the total number of clusters. Use a comb to brush the clusters. This will thin individual grapes in the cluster. Thinning of fruit will allow those that remain to grow larger. - Updated: April, 2002

5. Plant vegetable seeds - Top

Plant vegetable seeds of melons, squash, cucumber and sweet corn directly into the garden. Prepare the seed bed by mixing in lots of organic matter. Rake the seed bed smooth, removing any lumps of soil. Plant seeds according to label directions. Keep the seed bed moist at all times! If the soil dries while the seeds are germinating, they will not perish. - Updated: April, 2002

6. Apply chelated iron - Top

Apply chelated iron to plants such as citrus, gardenia, pyracantha, nandina, and bottle brush. Iron deficiency is characterized by a yellowing of the leaf portions between the leaf veins on newer growth. Iron should be applied to the soil using a "chelated" form. The best chelated iron formulation for our desert soils is a product called Sequestrene 138, also sold under the name Ferrione 138. Apply these products as a soil drench, according to label directions. - Updated: April, 2002

7. Plant new citrus trees - Top

Plant new citrus trees. Purchase citrus in 5 or 15 gallon containers at local garden centers. Plant them so that the top of the root ball is flush, or slightly higher than the surrounding soil. After planting, water often to promote new root growth. Wrap the trunk with a tree wrap to protect the bark from sun-scorch. Tree wraps are available at local garden centers. - Updated: April, 2002

8. Citrus fruit drop - Top

Citrus fruit drop will occur during hot, dry spring weather. This is a natural occurrence as the tree lightens it's load of fruit. However, citrus fruit drop can be excessive. To limit fruit drop to normal amounts, make sure watering is continued on a regular basis and citrus trees are not stressed for moisture. Citrus fruit do not require manually thinning, Mother Nature will take care of it herself.
- Updated: April, 2002

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: 1. Protect young plants from wildlife; 2. Look for aphids; 3. Add color to your landscape; 4. Thin fruit; 5. Plant vegetable seeds; 6. Apply chelated iron; 7. Plant new citrus trees; 8. Citrus fruit drop

1. Protect young plants from wildlife - Top: Protect young plants from wildlife. The best way to keep out critters is to fence them out with poultry or woven wire fencing. If rabbits are you problem, use one-half inch poultry wire. Cage individual plants or entire plantings. The wire fencing should be two to three feet high. Stake the fencing to keep it standing up. If you have problems with ground squirrels or chipmunks you'll need to use fencing with smaller openings; one-quarter inch woven wire. Cap the top of the fence with woven wire as ground squirrels and chipmunks can climb. Keep the fencing up until plants become more mature and less appealing to wildlife. - Updated: April, 2002

2. Look for aphids - Top: Look for aphids feeding on the new growth of vegetable plants, flowers, roses, oleander, fruit trees and shrubs. These small soft-bodied insects come in a variety of colors but are most commonly green, yellow, or yellowish green. They feed by sucking plant fluids from new foliage. In the process, they cause a curling and yellowing of the leaves. Aphids can be controlled by spraying the leaves with a strong spray of water, or with a soap spray made by mixing one tablespoon of any liquid dish washing detergent in one gallon of water. Be sure to spray both the top and bottom of the leaves. - Updated: April, 2002

3. Add color to your landscape - Top: Add color to your landscape with the planting of summer season annual flowers. The best heat tolerant flowers include; zinnia, marigold, portulaca (moss rose), Madagascar periwinkle, celosia (cockscomb), red and blue salvia, dusty miller and cosmos Some other choices for morning sun only include; geranium, gomphrena (globe amaranth), dahlias, and red salvia. Prior to planting, prepare the bed by mixing in lots of organic matter. Compost, peat moss, or aged manure are great sources of organic matter available in bags at local garden centers and nurseries. After planting, mulch the flower bed with shredded cedar mulch to conserve moisture and discourage weeds. - Updated: April, 2002

4. Thin fruit - Top: Thin fruit of deciduous trees such as apple, peach, plum and apricot. Pick the small fruit off, so that the fruit are spaced 6 inches apart. Also thin grapes by removing one-third to one-half the total number of clusters. Use a comb to brush the clusters. This will thin individual grapes in the cluster. Thinning of fruit will allow those that remain to grow larger. - Updated: April, 2002

5. Plant vegetable seeds - Top: Plant vegetable seeds of melons, squash, cucumber and sweet corn directly into the garden. Prepare the seed bed by mixing in lots of organic matter. Rake the seed bed smooth, removing any lumps of soil. Plant seeds according to label directions. Keep the seed bed moist at all times! If the soil dries while the seeds are germinating, they will not perish. - Updated: April, 2002

6. Apply chelated iron - Top: Apply chelated iron to plants such as citrus, gardenia, pyracantha, nandina, and bottle brush. Iron deficiency is characterized by a yellowing of the leaf portions between the leaf veins on newer growth. Iron should be applied to the soil using a "chelated" form. The best chelated iron formulation for our desert soils is a product called Sequestrene 138, also sold under the name Ferrione 138. Apply these products as a soil drench, according to label directions. - Updated: April, 2002

7. Plant new citrus trees - Top: Plant new citrus trees. Purchase citrus in 5 or 15 gallon containers at local garden centers. Plant them so that the top of the root ball is flush, or slightly higher than the surrounding soil. After planting, water often to promote new root growth. Wrap the trunk with a tree wrap to protect the bark from sun-scorch. Tree wraps are available at local garden centers. - Updated: April, 2002

8. Citrus fruit drop - Top: Citrus fruit drop will occur during hot, dry spring weather. This is a natural occurrence as the tree lightens it's load of fruit. However, citrus fruit drop can be excessive. To limit fruit drop to normal amounts, make sure watering is continued on a regular basis and citrus trees are not stressed for moisture. Citrus fruit do not require manually thinning, Mother Nature will take care of it herself.
- Updated: April, 2002

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