Springtime gardening tasks at hand

The list of gardening projects to complete in April is long. It includes some of the chores you may not have completed last month, such as pruning.

Preparing soil for gardening is a timely activity. Step No. 1 is to remove all weeds and other vegetation. After that, take out the larger rocks.

Most of the soils in our area are low on organic matter and will be improved by a heavy dose of compost. This provides food for earthworms while conditioning the clay, and increasing its aeration and drainage. Apply a layer of compost several inches deep and mix it into the soil.

Also mix in the three major plant nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Organic gardens are fertilized with natural products, such as alfalfa meal and greensand. In gardens where doing it the organic way is not a priority, you can use 10-10-10-, 5-10-10 and similar products.

Lime could also be needed. Soil in our area is naturally too acidic for most flowers, fruits and vegetables. The amount of lime to use is unknown unless you get the soil tested. You could collect a soil sample for testing and set it aside for mailing to the lab later. Collect your sample before putting on any of the above items or the results could be altered.

Dogwoods and azaleas are acid-loving plants, which normally do not benefit from lime. Lilac and ladendar grow best with plenty of lime in the soil.

Crabgrass seeds are poised to begin germinating. It all starts in early to mid-April, once the ground is warm enough. Germination continues into late summer.

There are several places where you do not see crabgrass germinating. Light is needed for germination, so there is nothing happening in heavy shade, dense lawns or under a layer of mulch.

No crabgrass is likely to be sprouting where you apply a pre-emergence weed killer, and water it soon after putting it down. Beds of ornamental plants are treated with products, such as Treflan and Preen. The products to use on lawns include Dimension, Team and Pendimethlin.

April is not too late to continue pruning shrubbery. The sooner you cut back the boxwoods, hollies and junipers in your yard, the more time they will have to put out fresh new leaves. Finish pruning crape myrtle, butterfly bush and other summer-bloomers in the near future or their flowering will be delayed.

The weather is too cold to put houseplants outdoors on a porch, with the possible exception of geraniums. These plants will flower best if you cut them back by 80 percent and start fertilizing in early spring. All houseplants have begun to grow rapidly by now, and all will appreciate some fertilizer. The repotting season also begins this month.

Vegetable gardeners are busy planting cool-season crops, such as potato, pea, radish, lettuce, spinach, beet, carrot, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. Frost is very likely in April, and tomato plants are not safe outdoors if exposed to the elements. Although you could protect the tomatoes by covering them during cold snaps, they are not going to grow much until May comes and the soil warms up.

-Davis is an Extension Agent for the Virginia Cooperative Extension. He can be reached by calling 455-3740.