This monthly garden calendar is provided by Steve Mayer, a horticulture educator with Purdue Extension - Marion County. The numbers in parentheses in the calendar entries are links to related Purdue Extension publications. Links to other websites are also sometimes provided.
FIRST WEEK
Plant early season potato cultivars as soon as the soil is dry enough to work. Use 2-ounce sections of certified, disease-free seed potatoes. (HO-62)
Apply crabgrass preventer to the lawn if you had a problem with crabgrass last year. Use a product with little or no fertilizer. (AY-10)
Eastern tent caterpillar eggs hatch about the time the border forsythia starts to bloom. Spray trees like cherry, plum and crabapple with the biological Bt insecticide when the first webs are noticed. (Link to OH)
To prevent leaf drop on crabapple trees susceptible to apple scab disease, spray before bloom. Apply a minimum of 3-4 sprays at 7 to 10-day intervals starting when flower buds show pink. (BP-39)
If you missed getting pansies into the ground last fall, plant pansies in a pot now. They tolerate freezing temperatures, but expose them to cold gradually if greenhouse grown.
To reduce fruit rots in strawberries, keep a layer of straw mulch between rows so bare ground is not visible. If fungicides are needed to prevent fruit rot, begin spraying when first blossom buds appear. (HO-46) (ID-146)
SECOND WEEK
Remove anthers as soon as Easter lily flowers open to prevent staining of the petals and to help prolong flower life.
Asparagus spears begin to emerge when soil temperatures reach 50 degrees F (growth rate depends on air temperature). Harvest by snapping while asparagus tips are still tight. (HO-96)
After flowering, keep your Easter lily growing in a sunny window until after the danger of frost has passed. Then plant it outside for summer blooms in the garden.(Link to IA) (Link to SC)
Termites usually begin to swarm in April. The presence of swarming termites outside does not necessarily mean a structure is infested. (E-2) (E-4)
Transplant 1-year old asparagus crowns between now and mid-May. (HO-96)
Check evergreens for spruce spider mites every 1 to 2 weeks in April and May. Apply a pesticide if 2 dozen mites fall from a branch when tapped over a sheet of paper. (E-42)
Fertilize perennial flowers as new growth emerges and transplant new perennials. (HO-61) (HO-79)
White flowers in shady turf areas might be Spring Beauty (native) or Star of Bethlehem. Sometimes it is best to just appreciate or tolerate these plants rather than try to control them.
THIRD WEEK
Emerald ash borer was found in Indiana in 2004. It was confirmed in the Indianapolis area in January 2006. To help reduce its spread, do not move firewood; buy and burn it locally. (Link to Firewood Alert) (More Links on Emerald Ash Borer)
Fall is the best time to control dandelions. However, the next best time is in late spring after the dandelions have flowered or in the puffball stage. (AY-9)
To eliminate unwanted fruit from sweet gum and other trees, apply ethephon (fruit eliminator) at the mid- to full bloom stage. Monitor sweet gum trees as redbud trees show color. (Link to Fruit Elimination)
Do not cut the foliage on spring flowering bulbs after bloom. Wait until the foliage dies naturally or at least 4 to 6 weeks after bloom. (HO-86)
In rainy weather it is better to mow the grass when it is a little wet rather than waiting until the grass is dry but 8 inches tall. (AY-8)
Remove flowers on newly planted strawberries. Flower removal in the first year will promote early, vigorous plant growth and early formation of runner plants to increase production. (HO-46)
Plant Sampler: All redbuds (Cercis canadensis) are not alike. Varieties with distinctive blooms include: Appalachian Red (bright pink with red purple buds), Tennessee Pink (clear pink) and Alba (white). Others have purple foliage or a weeping growth habit. (Link to CT)
FOURTH WEEK
Are they ants or termites? That's a common question that people ask. Ants have a narrow constricted waist while termites have a straight waist. (Link to CA) (Link to FL) (E-4) (E-22)
Plant strawberries this month. Set the plants early to obtain the best growth and plant development during the first year. (HO-46)
Continue to mow the lawn frequently with a sharp mower blade at the normal 3.0-3.5 inch cutting height. (AY-8)
The best time to aerate your lawn is in the fall. Severely compacted, actively growing lawns can be aerated in spring but additional weeds may result. (AY-8)
Periwinkle or myrtle (Vinca minor) can take over native plants in natural areas so only plant this ground cover where its spread can be contained (such as areas bordered by sidewalks).
Carpenter bees may create a nuisance buzzing around people and boring tunnels in untreated wood of structures (they do not eat wood). If needed, apply a labeled insecticide dust to the holes. (E-252) (Link to OH)
