Its official, spring is here! April is National Gardening Month, so join the celebration. Spring is a time of renewal and everyday rewards us with new signs of life. As the grounds warms, the bulbs begin to break through, sending up tender green shoots followed by flowers. The trees and shrubs that were bare and brown seem to have been transformed almost overnight into full leaf. Get out and enjoy this fabulous season,

April 22nd is Earth Day and we encourage everyone to participate and personally commit to making America cleaner and greener. We can all adopt earth-friendly practices and make simple changes that will improve the environment and protect our natural resources. As an avid gardener, you are already contributing to the “greening” of the environment. If you aren’t already doing so, when purchasing fertilizers and pesticides, always opt for the organic products and recycle all suitable materials into a compost pile.

Spring clean your garden in April. Stand back and get an overall view for a better idea on where to begin. Sometimes established plants tend to take over an area, or a hedge may be intruding on an entrance or walkway and need to be pruned and reshaped.
• Clean up any dead foliage or stems on perennials.
• Cut back ornamental grasses to about 2 to 3 inches in height, eliminating the old leaves and providing the new growth with more sunshine.
• After the final blooms, deadhead spring flowering bulbs.
• Although it is tempting, do not remove the foliage from spring flowering bulbs. There is still some growing time for these plants and this cycle gives the bulbs the necessary nutrients for flowering next year. In order to have flowers next year, allow the plants to die back naturally.
After the dormant winter season, a little extra effort to restore order in your existing garden will pay off big time as the growing season kicks into high gear.

Roses are a welcome addition to any garden. This is a good time to plant a new rose bush. Follow a few simple tips and you will be rewarded with a vibrant, healthy plant with dark green foliage and multiple blooms. Stop by your local nursery and check out the selection of roses. Your local nursery is an excellent resource to get information on rose care.

• Roses need lots of water, but should never be allowed to stand in water.
• Select a location that provides at least 6 hours of sun each day.
• Plant the rosebush with future growth in mind, allowing 3 to 4 feet.
• Loamy soil and some type of mulching are also important. Straw, compost or bark will help retain water as well as discourage weeds.
Roses should be fertilized three times a year; early spring, summer and early fall.

Existing roses need a little special attention this month. It is too early for pruning; stems that may look dead may actually be alive and will be starting new growth next month. So hold off on pruning until new buds are beginning to grow. Roses should be fertilized before they begin to bud.

Miscellaneous April Gardening Tips:

• Plant summer flowering bulbs. Gladiolas, lilies and dahlias are the tried and true favorites, but check with your local nursery for the newest, hardiest varieties.
• April is the time to plant zinnias, asters, cosmos and marigold seeds. Get those annual seeds in the ground.
• Feed all trees and shrubs.
• Trim shrubs.
• Now is a good time to divide or move clumps of perennials bulbs that have finished blooming. Just wait until the foliage turns yellow, them dig up and divide or replant them. Daffodils, daylilies and other bulbs that have multiplied can be divided and relocated, or shared with a fellow gardener.
• In many areas, the azaleas have finished blooming and are ready for a bit of pampering. If they are too large or leggy, now is the time to prune them. Water weekly during dry weather. A light application of fertilizer formulated for acid loving plants will give the plants nourishment for new growth during the summer and numerous flowers next spring.

April is the time to plant vines and climbers on pergolas, arbors and trellises. A climbing vine adds texture, height and color and the flowering types are especially attractive. Choose the vine that is best suited for the area; some thrive in semi-shade while others need full sun. Clematis, Wisteria and Climbing Roses the most common, but there are many other choices.

It is also time to turn your attention to the lawn. To warm the soil temperatures and allow for better water infiltration, aerify warm season lawns now. Over time soil becomes compacted, reducing the amount of air and water the lawn receives. To achieve a healthy lush lawn, roots must have oxygen to grow. Coring, which is also called aerating, is the solution to this problem. This process removes small cores of soil from the top inches of soil. Using a device that removes soil cores is the best method. This leaves holes in the turf that act as a conduit for oxygen and water and nutrients to enter the root zone. Coring is a very beneficial practice and results in:

• Improved water infiltration.
• Better fertilizer intake.
• Less water runoff.
• Improved gas exchange.
• Increased heat and drought tolerance.
• Improved thatch breakdown.

The time to core is when the lawn is actively growing, so cool-season grasses are best cored in the fall or early spring. Warm-season grasses perform best when cored in late spring or early summer. Inspect your lawn and see if this project should be on your to-do list.

A visit to your local nursery or garden center is guaranteed to give you the inspiration and information you need to tackle any garden project, from the smallest to the grandest scale. Enjoy the season; it doesn’t get much better than this!

For many of us, April also marks the celebration of Easter, or Resurrection Sunday. At this time, the true meaning of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and its impact on our lives, is the cause for great rejoicing around the world. May you and your loved ones be especially blessed during this special time.