HOME I ABOUT l MAP TO NURSERY l GARDENING INFORMATION l PLANT FILES I TIPS FOR THE MONTH
phone 770-954-9862 
WILSON BROS Nursery
Wilson Bros Nursery is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 7 DAYS A WEEK!
 
  Tips For the Month - APRIL

* Scroll down for condensed printable version

___ If you are on the ProScape Fertilization and Weed Prevention Program for Bermuda and Zoysia it is now time for Application # 2. Fertilize Bermuda and Zoysia lawns the mid to latter part of April with ProScape 20-4-10 Lawn Fertilizer with Barricade Pre-emergent Weed Preventer to feed and prevent the emergence of warm season weeds. If not on the program there's no better time to start than now! Measuring your lawn area(s) for square footage helps to determine the amount of fertilizer necessary for adequate coverage. To determine total square footage multiply length x width of lawn area(s). If weeds are present in your bermuda or zoyia lawn spot-spray them with Hi-Yield Lawn Weed Killer.

___ You can begin planting your annual flowerbeds now if weather reports indicate no more frost. Geraniums, petunias, dianthus, and marigolds will tolerate a mild frost and can be planted a little earlier than most other annuals. If you are planning on building new beds for annual flowers this season see How to Prepare an Annual Flowerbed. For existing flower beds make sure to add some fresh organic compost such as Mushroom Compost, Cow Manure, or Claycutter. Till or turn a half-inch to an inch layer of the compost to refurbish the flowerbed. After planting, fertilize annuals with a good flower food such as Colorburst or Annual Booster and then repeat fertilize every 4-6 weeks to sustain heavier flower production and overall optimum performance. You may also want to broadcast Treflan Granules over your newly planted flower bed to control weeds for the entire season. SEE: Annual Flower Listings

___ Plant perennials now. Thousands of perennials arrive at the nursery in March and April. Perennials come back year after year and can be planted in beds or containers to add vibrant splashes of color in just about any situation in your landscape. For example, the Stella De Oro Daylily, which blooms it's golden'yellow trumpet flowers for up to 5 months, can be planted as a border or in mass on slopes for erosion control. The flower and foliage colors and textures of perennials are endless. There are perennials for attracting butterflies, such as Miss Huff's Hardy Lantana, and others which attract and feed hummingbirds. There are perennials suited for shade or sun, dry or moist, and even ones such as Bog Salvia that repel deer! To learn more about perennial plants and find descriptive listings with photos see All About Perennials.

___ Fertilize Fescue lawns in the mid to latter part of April with 27-4-6 ProTurf Slow-Release Lawn Food for summer long feeding. Measuring your lawn area(s) for square footage helps to determine the amount of fertilizer necessary for adequate coverage. Measure length x width of area(s) to be covered for total square footage. SEE: How to Maintain a Fescue Lawn

___ Apply pelletized lime at this time to Fescue, Bermuda, and Zoysia lawns. If you have never applied lime to your lawn, a one-time application of 40 lbs per 500 -1,000 square feet usually corrects soil ph to a level sufficient for these grasses to thrive and fertilizers applied to break down. Make sure to use pellitized lime as it activates instantly. Measuring your lawn area(s) for square footage helps to determine the amount of lime necessary for adequate coverage. Measure length x width of area(s) to be covered for total square footage. SEE: Fertilizing & Maintaining Bermuda or Zoysia Lawns SEE: Fertilizing & Maintaining a Fescue Lawn

___ Fertilize Centipede and St. Augustine lawns mid to late April. Broadcast slow-release Pennington 18-0-18 with 3% iron for deep greening. If there is weed infestation use Pennington 18-0-18 Centipede Weed & Feed with Atrazine. If only a few weeds are present it is best to spot-spray them with liquid Atrazine Weed Killer. Note: Always use a broadcast type spreader and not a drop spreader when applying fertilizer to your lawn. CAUTION: Only use products that contain Atrazine for killing weeds in Centipede or St. Augustine Lawns. 2-4D, a chemical in most other lawn weed killers, such as Weed-B-Gone, can seriously damage these types of grasses. Measuring your lawn area(s) for square footage helps to determine the amount of fertilizer necessary for adequate coverage. Measure length x width of area(s) to be covered for total square footage. SEE: Fertilizing & Maintaining a Centipede or St. Augustine Lawn

___ After April 15th vegetable gardens can be planted. If after April 15th weather reports indicate no more frost it is safe to begin planting vegetables. If you have not yet refurbished your garden turn or till in a 1 to 2 inch layer of organic matter or compost before planting. If you do not make your own compost the nursery offers Claycutter Organic Soil Ammendment or Wilson Bros Compost Mix in bulk or bags. Fertilize vegetables with organic compost or 5-10-15 fertilizer. SEE: Making Your Own Compost - SEE: Preparing A Vegetable Garden

___ You may now plant Centipede or Bermuda Lawns from seed or sod. When planting a Bermuda lawn from seed make sure to use turf-type Bermuda seed as common bermuda is best suited for pastures. Panama Bermuda is a new genetically advanced Bermuda seed which displays excellent overall turf quality. The very dense and dark green turf is as good if not better than Tift 419 Bermuda sod. Why plant sod at 8 to 10 times the cost when you can get the same results by seeding with Panama Bermuda Grass Seed? Measuring your lawn area(s) for square footage helps to determine the amount of seed necessary for adequate coverage. Measure length x width of area(s) to be covered for total square footage. SEE: How To Plant A Bermuda or Centipede Lawn - SEE: All About Lawns featuring Terry O'Leary - Superintendent Georgia National Golf Course

___ Fertilize perennials now using Colorburst or Annual Booster Flower Fertilizer, or Organic Compost. SEE: All About Perennials

___ If you haven't done so yet, apply Bayer Systemic Insectide around the root systems of Crape Myrtles, Azaleas, Roses, Flowering Fruit Trees, and various other types of trees and shrubs that are known to attract insects. One application of Bayer Systemic Insecticide feeds through the root systems and up into the leaves of plants to control damaging insects for up to one year!

___ Fertilize and prune some of the early spring flowering shrubs that have finished blooming, such as Forsythia, Quince, and Tulip Trees (Japanese Magnolias). Prune Lantanas once you see new growth begin to emerge from base of plants. After pruning these shrubs fertilize them with 14-7-7 Nursery & Landscape Fertilizer. Make sure to wait to prune azaleas and other spring flowering shrubs until after they have bloomed. SEE: Pruning Shrubs & Trees

___ Fertilize Roses if you haven't done so within the last six weeks. An application every 6 weeks or so of Fertilome Rose Food with Systemic Insecticide will keep those pesty insects away throughout the season. SEE: All About Roses featuring local rose expert Gary Mueller.

___ If Winter Ryegrass was used to overseed Bermuda lawns for the winter it is time to cut it as low as possible to allow the Bermuda to emerge from dormancy.

___ If you would like to have a landscape design drawn for all or part of your property now is a good time. Call the nursery to to set up a free appointment. 770-954-9862 or SEE: All About Landscape Design

 

* CONDENSED PRINTABLE VERSION

TO PRINT: Right click anywhere on the document below and select 'Print' or 'Print Picture' from the drop down or pop-up menu box that appears.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
SEARCH OUR SITE
 
Gardening 'How To'

Plant Files

Tips for the Month
Topics of Interest

D-I-Y Projects
FREE Designs
Map to Nursery
 
 
FREE NEWSLETTER
Receive periodic tips and reminders, new product reviews, valuable coupons and more! Sign Up