March Outdoor Gardening

Prune any dead wood from trees and shrubs.

Remove mulch from around spring bulbs when growth is one inch high.

Attend the Chicago Flower Show at Navy Pier - March 14th - 22nd - Call 312-595-PIER for more information or check Navy Pier's web site at www.navypier.com

Prune fruit trees before bloom, thereby increasing light penetration and fruit quality.

Remove mulch over strawberries when they start to grow; early removal can expose plants to cold snaps.

Dig soil when it's dry. Digging wet soil can cause it to compact, resulting in "concrete."

Sow radish and lettuce; try alternating rows of red and green lettuce; it not only tastes great, but looks good.

Add 3-4 inches of organic matter to garden soils and dig in.

Start varieties of tomatoes indoors for planting in May.

Test your soil. For soil testing booklet call 773-233-0476.

March Indoor Gardening

Repot houseplants, especially those that are rootbound.

Increase watering as houseplants show growth spurts.

April Outdoor Gardening

Buying bare-root trees? Best are those with extensive root systems versus top growth.

Soak the roots of bare-root trees and shrubs overnight before planting.

Plant disease-resistant crabapples. For a list of disease resistant crabapple trees call 773-233-0476.

Fertilize trees with nitrogen fertilizers. For a free fact sheet on fertilizing shade & ornamental trees call 773-233-0476.

Plant evergreen shrubs along north side of your home to protect against winter winds and reduce heating bills.

Prune spring flowering shrubs after flowering.

Apply pre-emergent crabgrass control before forsythia blooms fade.

Remove mulch from roses; prune dead branches.

Overseeding of lawns can be done now. Best time is late summer because of less weed competition.

Plan to attend the Green & Growing Fair on May 16th at the Field Museum. For more information call 312-427-4256 - Extension 385.

Plant carrots, radishes, spinach, peas and beets.

Grow a rounded form of carrot like "Thumbelina." It does well in heavy, clay soils.

Keep rabbits out of the vegetable garden with a chicken wire fence. For free factsheet on Controlling Rabbits in Your Garden call 773-233-0476.

Plant broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower transplants.

Prepare to cover young plants when frost threatens.

Cover newly planted seed with vermiculite instead of soil. Vermiculite will not crust over like soil.

Plant the Dwarf Dill "Fernleaf"; an All America selection winner; it is half the height of regular dill.

Lay black plastic over soil before planting early warm season vegetables. Soil under plastic will average 10° warmer than soil not covered.

April Indoor Gardening

Fertilize houseplants as day length increases.

Promote even growth of houseplants by turning plants every two to three days.

Keep Easter lilies out of direct sunlight and warm drafts. Remove flowers as soon as they die. For free Easter lily factsheet call 773-233-0476. May Outdoor Gardening Plan vegetable gardens with nutrition in mind. Your family will get more vitamins and minerals from a block of spinach than from an equal amount of lettuce.

Protect transplants from cutworms with collars. Cut strips of cardboard 2" wide by 8" long and staple them into a band and place around plants. Press collar about 1" into the soil.

Thin carrots, beets, kohlrabi and late lettuce.

Continue to harvest mature plantings of asparagus and rhubarb so they will keep growing.

Deep transplanting is good for tomatoes. Remove all leaves that would be under the soil. New roots will sprout along the stem.

Check to see if bees are visiting blossoms on fruit trees. Numerous bee visits mean a good fruit set.

Putting water filled plastic milk jugs around new seedlings will help them through cold nights because heat will radiate from the sun warmed water.

Begin spray schedule to control diseases and insects on fruit trees.

Plant melons, peppers, eggplant, sweet potatoes and other warm season vegetables.

Mark the handle of your spade or hoe in inches for a handy measuring device for row width and planting distances. Paint or tape the measurements on the handle. A coat of varnish can make the marks last longer.

Spray roses with appropriate fungicide every 7-10 days beginning as leaves emerge.

Allow spring bulb foliage to die naturally. Leaves manufacture the food resources which are stored in the bulb for a repeat showing next year.

Plant annuals, perennial flowers and herbs near the end of May.

When cutting peonies back to bloom indoors, cut those that are just beginning to open.

Prune Eastern tent caterpillar nests from trees.

Sharpen your lawn mower blade monthly since a dull blade can pull grass seedlings from the soil instead of cutting them.

When choosing perennials choose those such as hostas and sedums which have striking foliage.

Save money on mulch materials by using 1 to 2 inches of wood chips before spreading 2 inches of decorative shredded bark.

Place heavy rocks in a lightweight container to keep it from falling over.

Use a half barrel to create a mini pond in your backyard. For a free factsheet on creating a barrel pond call 773-233-0476.

Lawns maintained at the correct height resist disease and weed infestation.

Don't spray pesticides on a windy day. Not only is pesticide wasted, it may endanger other crops, animals or people.

May Indoor Gardening

Adding fertilizer to a dry root ball burns the roots, damaging or killing the plant, so water dry houseplants before fertilizing and never fertilize wilted plants.

Vacation hint: sink houseplants, pots and all, in the soil in a shady area of the garden. Mulch to reduce the need for frequent watering.

Spring 1998
University of Illinois Booksale | Zoysiagrass! Can You Believe the Ads? | Crabgrass Control | Choosing Home Lawn Care Services | Selecting a Tree Service or Arborist | All America Selections 1998 | All Tomato Varieties Certainly Not the Same | Some Noteworthy Perennial Combinations | Bug Bites | Lawn Care Calendar | Cybergarden Sites | Hort Shorts | Hort Tips | Healthy Eating: Butter vs. Margarine | Health Update: Vitamin & Mineral Supplements | Food Safety: Eggs | Health & Household Update | Did You Know?

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