White County
 Gardening
Podcast
April 8, 2009
April Gardening Calendar (2:19 minutes)
Audio/Video Script:
Sherri Sanders
County Extension Agent - Agriculture
It seems spring has sprung! Hello this is Sherri Sanders, County Extension
Agent – Agriculture in White county.
Spring flowering shrubs should be
pruned–only if needed, after spring bloom. Fertilize then as well.
Most shrubs will benefit from one application of fertilizer per year, and spring
is a fine time to apply it. Repeated applications should not be necessary.
As you plant summer color, incorporate a complete fertilizer or a slow
release fertilizer, plant and mulch. To keep annuals blooming their best,
make regular applications of a water soluble fertilizer. Let the soil
temperatures begin to warm up before you get sowing your annual vines. By
mid to late month, sow seeds of hyacinth vine, moon vine and cypress vines.
You may also be able to find transplants at your local nursery. These
vines really kick in and grow with warm weather, and can give you a beautiful
display of flowers from mid summer on.
A home vegetable garden is a wonderful way to garden, and get fresh produce.
April is one of the best months to plant, since you can basically plant almost
every crop. You have until mid month to plant the cool season
veggies - lettuce, spinach, broccoli, onions; plus you can begin to plant the warm
season vegetables. Snap beans and corn can go in the ground right away,
but wait until mid month for tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. You won’t
gain much by early planting, and growth will kick in once the weather is warmer,
and the soil is warmer. You can speed up the soil warming process by using
black plastic mulch, or simply be patient.
Choose a site that gets a minimum of
six hours of sunlight. Make sure water is nearby, and that the soil is
well drained. Add a layer of compost or similar organic matter and till it into
the soil. Broadcast a complete fertilizer for all crops at planting, and
then side dress 6-8 weeks later. Springtime gardening often causes us to
plant more than we can care for.
The delightful weather leads to all kinds
of hopes and dreams. Just remember that July and August are waiting!
Mulching is your best method to prevent weeds, plus it maintains soil
temperature and moisture. Insects and diseases are just beginning to
appear, so monitor your plants and catch them early.
For additional horticulture information, contact your county Extension
office. This has been Sherri Sanders in Searcy.
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