Category
|
Week
|
Activity
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
| Ornamentals |
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Fertilize azaleas after bloom. Use a formulation which has an acid reaction. |
|
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
If spring rains have been sparse, begin irrigating, especially plants growing in full sun. |
|
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Apples, crabapples and hawthorns susceptible to rust disease should have protective fungicidal sprays applied beginning when these trees bloom. |
|
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Pinch azaleas and rhododendron blossoms as they fade. Double flowered azaleas need no pinching. |
|
|
x
|
x
|
o
|
o
|
Canker worms (inch worms) rarely cause permanent damage to ornamentals. Use B.T. if control is deemed necessary. |
|
|
x
|
x
|
o
|
o
|
Don't remove spring bulb foliage prematurely or next year's flower production will decline. |
|
|
x
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
Plant hardy water lilies in tubs or garden pools. |
|
|
x
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
Continue monitoring pines, especially scotch and mugo, for sawfly activity on new shoots. |
|
|
x
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
Begin planting gladiolus bulbs as the ground warms. Continue at 2 week intervals. |
|
|
o
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Scale crawlers are active now. Infested pines and euonymus should be treated at this time. |
|
|
o
|
x
|
x
|
o
|
Plant summer bulbs such as caladiums, dahlias, cannas, elephant ears. |
|
|
o
|
x
|
o
|
o
|
Begin planting warm-season annuals. |
|
|
o
|
o
|
x
|
x
|
If spring rains have been sparse, begin irrigating, especially plants growing in full sun. |
|
|
o
|
o
|
x
|
x
|
Bulbs can be moved or divided as the foliage dies. |
|
|
o
|
o
|
x
|
x
|
Begin fertilizing annuals. Continue at regular intervals. |
|
|
o
|
o
|
x
|
x
|
Trees with a history of borer problems should receive their first spray now. Repeat twice at 3 week intervals. |
|
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
x
|
Pinch back mums to promote bushy growth. |
| Lawns |
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Keep bluegrass cut at 1.5 to 2.5 inch height. Mow tall fescue at 2 to 3.5 inch height. |
|
|
o
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Apply post-emergence broadleaf weed controls now if needed. |
|
|
o
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Mow zoysia lawns at 1.5 inch height. Remove no more than one-half inch at each mowing. |
|
|
o
|
o
|
x
|
x
|
Zoysia lawns may be fertilized now. Apply no more than 1 pound of actual nitrogen per 1000 square feet. |
|
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
x
|
Watch for sod webworms emerging now. |
| Turfgrass |
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Keep bluegrass cut at 1.5 to 2.5 inches in height. |
|
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Mow tall fescues at 2 to 3.5 inch height. |
|
|
o
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Apply post-emergence broadleaf weed controls now if needed. |
|
|
o
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Mow zoysia lawns at 1.5 inch height. Remove no more than one-half inch at each mowing. |
|
|
o
|
o
|
x
|
x
|
Zoysia lawns may be fertilized now. Apply no more than 1 pound of actual nitrogen per 1000 square feet. |
|
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
x
|
Watch for sod webworms emerging now. |
| Vegetables |
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Place cutworm collars around young transplants. Collars are easily made from cardboard strips. |
|
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Slugs will hide during the daytime beneath a board placed over damp ground. Check each morning and destroy any slugs that have gathered on the underside of the board. |
|
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Growing lettuce under screening materials will slow bolting and extend harvests into hot weather. |
|
|
x
|
x
|
o
|
o
|
Plant dill to use when making pickles. |
|
|
x
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
Begin planting sweet corn as soon as white oak leaves are as big as squirrel ears. |
|
|
x
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
Isolate sweet, super sweet and popcorn varieties of corn to prevent crossing. |
|
|
x
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
Keep asparagus harvested for continued spear production. Control asparagus beetles as needed. |
|
|
x
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
Control caterpillars on broccoli and cabbage plants by handpicking or use biological sprays such as B.T. |
|
|
x
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
Thin plantings of carrots and beets to avoid overcrowding. |
|
|
x
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
Set out tomato plants as soils warm. Place support stakes alongside at planting time. |
|
|
o
|
x
|
x
|
o
|
Place a stake by seeds of squash and cucumbers when planting in hills to locate the root zone watering site after the vines have run. |
|
|
o
|
x
|
x
|
o
|
Remove rhubarb seeds stalks as they appear. |
|
|
o
|
x
|
o
|
o
|
Watch for striped and spotted cucumber beetles now. Both may spread wilt and mosaic diseases to squash and cucumber plants. |
|
|
o
|
o
|
x
|
x
|
Set out peppers and eggplants after soils have warmed. Plant sweet potatoes now. |
|
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
x
|
Make new sowings of warm-season vegetables after harvesting early crops. |
| Fruits |
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Mulch blueberries with pine needles or sawdust. |
|
|
x
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
Don't spray any fruits while in bloom. Refer to local Extension publications for fruit spray schedule. |
|
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
x
|
Prune unwanted shoots as they appear on fruit trees. |
| Miscellaneous |
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Birds eat many insect pests. Attract them to your garden by providing good nesting habitats. |
|
|
o
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Herbs planted in average soils need no extra fertilizer. Too much may reduce flavor and pungency at harvest. |
|
|
o
|
o
|
x
|
x
|
Watch for fireflies on warm nights. Both adults and larvae are important predators. Collecting may reduce this benefit. |
|
|
o
|
o
|
x
|
x
|
Take houseplants outdoors when nights will remain above 50 degrees. Most prefer only direct morning sun. |
|
|
o
|
o
|
x
|
x
|
Sink houseplants up to their rims in soil or mulch to conserve moisture. Fertilize regularly. |
