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The Garden Website.com

Amanda's Garden Consulting Company
Prospect Point, Stanley Park in Vancouver. 

The Garden Website for April

New Video: How to Divide Dahlias 
New Video: How to Plant a Tree
New Video: How to Prune a Grapevine in Winter
Blog: Tomato Seedlings to Plants
Covid-19 - Seeds, Seedlings & Transplants - Sowing Seeds Outdoors - Seedlings to Transplants 
Give Them Such a Pinch - Hardening Off - Veggie Gardening - Lawn Care - Lawn Alternatives 
Spring Planters - Planting Tips - What to Prune - Cutting Back - Spring Rose Care 
Make More Plants - Weeds - Insects in the Garden - Why Use Compost 
April Introduction - April Plant Combo - Amanda's Garden Blog -  April Garden Chores - Plant Police 
April Flower Arrangement - For the Tropical Gardener - Plant of the Month: Flowering Quince

April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
A Japanese skimmia and a pink early flowering tulip.
Please note that any text that is coloured is linked to another page on this website or another.
Some of the pictures are linked to other websites. 

April Intro

PictApril gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarretture
Hello everyone.
I hope you are enjoying spending time in your garden, I know I am enjoying mine, although it’s overshadowed by why I am able to do so. Usually I struggle to find the time to toil in the soil, but now the world is on pause. I think we all wished the world should slow down, but hey, a pandemic? That’s just crazy town.

And yet, spring carries on as though all is right with the world – and it is - in the natural world, in fact it’s rebounding without us. April blossoms are strutting their stuff for all of us to admire - since we now have the time.

Gardening has never been so popular, and with the social and shopping restrictions it's all the more reason to grow some veggies. A sunny windowsill or grow lights, a plant pot, potting soil, seeds or transplants are all you need. The grocery store is a convenient place to pick up a 'living lettuce' in the produce department. It already has roots, all you have to do is plant it. Then there's garlic bulbs, onions, leeks, shallots and potatoes and since most grocery stores sell seeds, supplies, and you're good to go. 
Happy spring, happy gardening and stay safe.
Cheers,
Amanda
Click on Facebook to go to my facebook page. I'll do my best to add more garden related stuff. 
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English bluebells and a Patriot hosta.

Covid-19

April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
I'm trying, I'm trying!
Due to Covid-19, business will resume when we get the all clear. In the meantime, hope the website helps and I'll post on Facebook.

Chloe & Cocoa cats,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
At least we'll all get some much needed gardening done.
And our pets and children will be happy that's everyone's home. Our kitties are thrilled. 

Amanda's Garden Blog

Japanese spirea,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
Golden tulips and a Japanese spirea.
Check out my blog and articles on my gardening experiments, trials. tribulations and excursions. Click on the items below to be directed to its page. To subscribe to my blog click here. 
  • Tomato Seedlings to Plants
  • Damping Off - A Seedling Killer!
  • Lawns: ​Seeding, Sowing, Renovating
  • Lawn Grub Control
  • Tuberous Begonias 101
  • Dahlias 101
  • Pruning in Winter
  • Pruning & Training Grape Vines in Winter
  • Insects & Diseases Control with Dormant Spray
  • Dealing With Drought
  • Heritage Vancouver 7th Annual Garden Tour
  • Growing Potatoes
  • Pruning Shrubs into Trees
  • Portland's International Rose Test Garden
  • Collecting & Saving Seeds
  • Heritage Vancouver 6th Garden Tour
  • The Dunbar Garden Tour 2018
  • Easy Roses Do Exist.. Really!
  • Dart's Hill, A Garden Park
  • VanDusen Botanical Gardens Visit
  • Tall Kale Tales
  • Northwest Flower & Garden Show, Seattle
  • Why Christmas cactus Don't Blossom
  • A Quickie Festive Swag
  • Putting the Garden to Bed
  • How to Drain Soggy Soil
  • A Visit to the Arizona - Sonora Desert
  • Banana, Palm Tree Winter Protection
  • Lasagna Gardening, Sheet Mulching
  • Saving Geraniums, Coleus, Bougainvilleas & Other Tender Plants 
  • Spiders Everywhere - Oh My!
  • Tomato Troubles & Soil Solarization
  • Trees That Drip That Sticky Stuff
  • Balcony Bliss
  • One Huge Beetle! 
  • A Summer's Day Harvest
  • The Dunbar Garden Club Private Tour
  • Leaky Birdbaths and Slug Free Strawberries
  • Easy Roses
  • Oops... Wrong Plant, Wrong Place
  • I Had An Ugly Lawn...
  • Planting Spring Bulbs in Autumn
  • Updated: ​Saving Geraniums, Coleus, Bougainvilleas & Other Tender Plants 
  • Christmas Tree Selection 
  • Making a Garland
  • 10 Steps to Festive Planter
  • Fast & Inexpensive Fall Wreath
To subscribe to my blog click here. 
Tulipa Oullioles,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
Award-winning Tulip 'Ollioules' is astunning Darwin hybrid.
Lamprocapnos spectabilis,bleeding heart,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
Bleeding hearts. I hope your heart stays in tact during this difficult time.

April Garden Stars

Aubretia deltoidea,Purple Prince tulip,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
A white flowered aubretia, Aubretia deltoidea, low spreading evergreen ground cover, sun to part shade, Zones 4 to 9. And Purple Prince tulips.
Dodecatheon pulchellum,shooting star,Amanda Jarrett,spring gardens,spring plants,April gardens,April plants,April flowers,April lawn care,spring lawn care,April garden chores,sowing seeds,the Garden Website.com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting
Shooting star, Dodecatheon pulchellum, herbacous perennial, up to 12" when in flower, indigenous to Western North America, Zone 4 to 7.
Cheiranthus (Erysimum) cheiri,wallflower,biennial,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
English wallflower, Erysimum (Cheiranthus) cheiri, biennial, 6" to 2ft, sun to shade, self-seeds. Zones 7 to 9

Augustine Hobbie rhododendron,R. augustinii 'Augustine Hobbie',April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
'Augustine Hobbie' rhododendron (R. augustinii 'Augustine Hobbie', broadleaf evergreen, 3-6' x 4, Zone 7
Eddie's White Wonder dogwood,Cornus,April gardens,spring gardening,spring trees,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
Eddie's White Wonder dogwood, deciduous tree, sun, part shade, 20-30ft x 20ft, Zones 7 to 9.
Fothergilla gardenii,dwarf fothergilla,April flowers,spring shrubs,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
Dwarf fothergilla, F. gardenii, deciduous shrub, 1.5' - 3' x 2' - 4', fragrant, sun to part shade, good fall colour. Zones 5 to 8.

Amelanchier canadensis,serviceberry,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
Serviceberry, Amelanchier canadensis, deciduous tree, to 30' x 20', sun to part shade, fall colour. Zones 4 to 8
Tulipa Quebec,Greigii tulip,spring bulbs,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
Quebec, Greigii tulip, spring bulb, multi-flowered, 3-5 flowers/bulb, 12", naturalizes, sun, Zones 3 to 8.
Bellis perennis,English Daisy,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
Bellis perennis, English daisy, 6" x 8", herbaceous perennial, sun to part shade, naturalizes. Zones 4 to 8.

Fritillaria imperialis,Crown imperial,spring bulb,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
Crown imperial, Fritillaria imperialis, spring flowering bulb, 3-4’ x 1-1.5’, fragrant, sun to part shade. Zones 5 to 8.
Anemone nemorosa,wood anemone,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
Wood anemone, Anemone nemorosa, herbaceous perennial, 0.50 to 1.50 ft, part sun to shade, summer dormancy, naturalizes. Zones 5 to 8.
Muscari White Magic grape hyacinth,spring bulb,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
White Magic grape hyacinth, Muscari White Magic, spring bulb, 6 to 10 inches, sun to part shade, fragrant, naturalizes. Zones 4 to 8.

Bishop's Hat,Epimedium × versicolor 'Sulphureum',April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
Bishop's Hat (Epimedium × versicolor 'Sulphureum') is a good evergreen groundcover for shade.
Berberis x lologensis,Lake Lolog Barberry,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
Lake Lolog Barberry (Berberis x lologensis), broadleaf evergreen shrub, deer resistant, sun to part shade, edible fruit, 8ft x 8ft. Zones 5 to 9.
Trillium erectum f. albiflorum,white red trillium,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
White form of red trillium, Trillium erectum f. albiflorum, herbaceous perennial, 10 - 20 inches, shade to part shade, unpleasand scent, woodlands, poisonous berries and roots, dormant late summer, Zones 4 to 7

Clematis armandii,evergreen clematis,evergreen vine,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
Evergreen clematis, Clematis 'Armandii', evergreen vigorous vine grows to 25 ft, fragrant flowers, sun to part sun. Zones 7 to 9.
Iris japonica,fringed iris,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
Fringed iris, Iris japonica, rhizomatous herbaceous perennial, grows to 1 ft, part shade. Zones 7 to 9.
Fritillaria meleagris,checkered lily,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
Checkered lily (Fritillaria meleagris), spring bulb, to 1 ft, sun to part shade, deer tolerant, Zones 3 to 8.

April PLANT COMBO

Berberis thunbergii 'Crimson Pygmy',Armeria maritima,Lavandula,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
Sea thrift in the foreground with Crimson Pygmy barberry in the middle with English lavender in the background.
This effective plant combination is courtesy of the City of Delta. It sits on the side of a road where it receives little care and no additional water, to my knowledge. All these plants don't mind the small amount of soil surrounded by a sea of concrete. It's hot, dry and receives full sun, but the plants don't seem to mind. As a rule, municipalities usually select tough, hardy plants that require little care. This combo includes Crimson Pigmy barberry (Berberis thunbergii 'Crimson Pygmy'), sea thrift (Armeria maritima), English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia).

plant police

grafting,rootstocks,scion,pruning,ornamental cherry tree,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
This grafted ornamental cherry is of two minds.
This pink ornamental cherry tree is confused and needs help. Although the two different coloured flowers look pretty cool, it's not a good thing. It's supposed to be pink, not pink and white. but that what happens when two different trees are grafted together. Oftentimes the hardy most robust rootstock takes over the weaker grafted part (scion). It is common problem with grafted plants including hybrid tea roses, dwarf, tree forms of shrubs (standards), weeping and variegated varieties. Any errant growth that emerges from below the grafted bud union, must be removed asap. As with this example, the branches with the white flowers must be removed from where they emerge - even if it means digging into the soil and cutting them directly from the roots. Pull them off if the are small or cut them off if that's too difficult. Go right to the base of the stem so it won't regrow. If that is not done, the rootstock will take over and instead of a small fancy pink ornamental cherry it will revert back to the wild and larger cherry species. 
Corylus avellana,filbert,hazelnut,grafted plants,rootstock,pruning,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
A fancy purple cultivar of a filbert (Corylus avellana) is in trouble of loosing it's individuality as the original green rootstock tries to overtake its weaker but more colourful graft. Remove the green stems to their base.

Seeds, Seedlings & Transplants

what to plant in April,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
Avoid Planting Outside: Wait until after your frost date: tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, melons, squashes, beans, petunias, impatiens, begonias, geraniums (Pelargoniums) and other frost tender plants.
The timing of planting veggies and bedding plants depends on where you live in the world. Planting tender plants such as tomatoes, peppers, impatiens and petunias after the danger of frost has passed. To find out what your last frost date is in your area click on your country: Canada, America, Great Britain and France. 

Some plants don't mind cooler temperatures so read plant labels and seed packets.In the temperate south of British Columbia, plant tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, petunias, begonias and other warm season plants in late April. For the rest of the Canada wait until mid-May.

Sowing Seeds Outdoors

Direct Seeding
seeds outdoors,direct seeding,sowing seeds,propagation,Amanda Jarrett,spring gardens,spring plants,April gardens,April plants,April flowers,April lawn care,spring lawn care,April garden chores,sowing seeds,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
Peas don't mind April's cool weather.
It's time to sow broccoli, spinach and other cool season crops in the garden. Check seed packets for other suitable candidates. Water garden beds a day before planting, especially if the soil is dry. Suitable plants to start outside are listed below. 
Vegetables: arugula, broad (fava) beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard, collards, endive, fennel, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, onion sets, pac and bok choi, parsley, parsnips, peas, seed potatoes, radicchio, radishes, scallions, spinach, turnips. Herbs: borage, chives, cilantro, dill, fennel, garlic cloves. Flowers: calendula, cleome, cosmos, foxgloves, marigolds, nasturtiums, poppies, sweet peas, sunflowers. For more information on direct sowing click here. For more on Growing Vegetables click here. 
sweet peas,Lathyrus odoratus 'April in Paris',sowing seeds,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
'April in Paris' sweet pea. Soak seeds for 8 hours before planting.

SEeds to Sow Indoors

marigolds,tagetes,sowing seeds,April gardens,spring gardening,April plants,April flowers,April garden chores,landscaping,horticulturist,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
Marigolds are quick to grow from seed and do well when started indoors.
Sowing seeds indoors gives them a head start so they are more mature and are able to thwart plant pests such as slugs, cutworms and other seedling predators. It's a little too late to plant petunias, tomatoes and other plants that should have been sown 6 to 8 weeks before planting out. Luckily there are many plants that are quick to grow these include: sunflowers, cucumbers, squash, melons, beans, nasturtiums, sweet peas, calendula, marigolds, lavatera and peas. For more on Sowing Seeds Indoors click here. 

Seedlings to Transplants

Picture
​Re-potting Seedlings: Seeds that were started in February and March should be ready to put into their own individual pots by now. Repot into larger pots, once seedlings develop two to three sets of true leaves. Transplant each one into their own 2 inch pots. Use potting soil, not garden soil. After about 3 to 4 weeks (maybe less, maybe more depending on the plant and the conditions), roots should be well established with adequate leaves and stems to be prepare them for the outside world.
Picture
Prepare seedlings: Broccoli, kale, chard, lettuce, peas, cabbage, sweet peas, alyssum, snapdragons and other cool season transplants can be planted in the garden, as long as they have been hardened off (see below) first.

gIVE tHEM sUCH a pINCH!

Picture
Pinch the tip off seedlings when they are large enough or at planting.
Picture
Just take the tip off.
To make plants compact, to increase flowers and to promote root growth, pinch off their growing tips when plants develop at least four sets of healthy leaves or just before you plant them outside: marigolds, celosia, impatiens, petunias, salvias and other bedding plants (annuals). 
Picture
Pinch just above a leaf or a set of leaves.
Picture
Remove flowers from seedlings so they will concentrate their energy on roots, not flowers.

Hardening off Plants

Preparing Seedlings & House Plants for Life Outdoors
transplants,hardening off,spring gardening,April gardens,April gardening,the garden website.com,Lee Valley Tools,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
When your seedlings are ready to plant out, slowly acclimatize them to the outdoors. This process is referred to as Hardening-off.
Hardening-Off: Before planting outside, plants must be acclimatized. This process is referred to as hardening-off. Set plants outside for an hour in a shaded protected spot. Each day thereafter, increase their time outside by an hour or so, their light and wind exposure until they are outside all day and night. Check on them often during this process to make sure they are not suffering and have adequate water. They will let you know they are unhappy.
Picture
These baby pac choi plants are ready to plant into the garden now they've been acclimatized.

Veggie Gardening

Picture
A cottage garden in England combines flowers and veggies.
  • Before planting, mix into the soil a few inches of compost, SeaSoil, composted steer or sheep manure. For more on soil improvement click here. 
  • Plant broccoli, lettuce, kale, cabbage, cauliflower and other cool season crops as transplants outside.
  • Directly sow seeds outside of radish, carrots, peas, leeks as well as onion sets and garlic cloves. Click here for more on Direct Sowing. 
  • Plant seed potatoes. Prepare them first by chitting. It initiates buds to form and grow into stems. Click here for more info.
  • Wait until next month to plant warm season crops: tomatoes, peppers, melons, cucumbers or start them inside as indicated above. 
  • Protect cabbage, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots from carrot rust fly, leaf minor and cabbage worm by covering them with a floating row cover (cloche). To learn more click here.​
  • To learn more about Vegetable Gardening click here.
  • To learn about Crop Rotation, Companion Planting and Crop Succession, click here.
sowing seeds,propagation,Amanda Jarrett,spring gardens,spring plants,April gardens,April plants,April flowers,April lawn care,spring lawn care,April garden chores,sowing seeds,the Garden Website.com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting
A handy map helps plan the garden and is a good reminder for next your so you can rotate your crops more efficiently.

Lawn Care

Healthy lawns don't magically grow on their own. They need proper care so they can out-compete weeds, moss and those darn lawn grubs. For a healthier, greener and stronger lawn change the way you take care of the lawn. By the end of the year, you should a vast improvement. 
  • Aerate: with a core aerator. Hire someone to do this; it’s hard work.
  • Lime: Use lime if your soil is too acidic (pH below 6.0). Use dololpril according to the instructions. It is a slow acting, coated product that's easy to apply.
  • Topdress: Spread up to an inch of compost, or a good garden mix on top of the lawn. 
  • Reseed: Use correct seed for conditions: sun or shade, select one with fertilizer included and follow instructions.
  • Moss killer: Liquid works faster than the granular. Follow the instructions for effective control. 
  • Mow: Set the mower at 3 inches, only take off a third of the grass blades at each mowing.
  • Clippings: Leave the lawn clippings on the lawn, don't bag them. Mow often so clippings don’t clump on top of the grass.
  • Water: Water in the summer - an inch a week. Don’t allow lawn to dry out.
  • Grub Control: Click here to learn how to take care of your lawn so the grubs and critters don't eat it alive. 
  • For more on Spring Lawn Care click here. 
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Core aeration removes plugs of soil so air and water can penetrate to grass roots.

Hate your lawn?

Lawn Alternatives
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Microclover is getting good reviews as a lawn alternative.
You don't have to have a lawn if you don't want to. This is especially true if the conditions are not conducive to happy grass such as wet soil, soil that's too dry, nutrient poor soil, soil that is rock hard (compacted) and a very common problem: too much shade. 

There are many plants that love the conditions that hinders grass from growing. There’s no need to rip up the existing lawn, just make the bed on top with the lasagna gardening method. To learn more click here.

If you’d rather have an expanse of green you can walk on, how about microclover? This wee version of clover is easier to grow than grass and is much cuter than regular clover. 

Ground covers are also an acceptable alternative to lawns. There are some for shade, part shade and sun. Click here to learn more about some very handsome lawn alternatives and which ones to stay away from. 

How about planting a meadow? Meadow gardens are becoming increasingly popular and rightly so. Like the microclover they provide food for pollinating insects and when done well, they look marvelous. Just weave a path by mowing through ornamental grasses, herbaceous perennials and wildflowers. 

Cottage gardens are another fun and easy alternative. Anything goes really as you combine shrubs, small trees, perennials and food plants: blueberries, strawberries, dwarf fruit trees, grapes, herbs and veggies together.  
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A meadow garden replaces a front lawn.

Spring Planters

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Sometimes it's the little things that make us smile like this simple arrangement of daffodils, primroses and grape hyacinths.
It doesn't take much to bring sunshine into the garden, or by the front door, which is where this spring planter is located. A combination of daffodils, primroses and grape hyacinths work well together. Planting up a container full of spring flowers is hard to screw up because, hey, they are colourful and ever-so lovely. Things to keep in mind is to keep your colour palette to two or three, use potting soil not garden soil, select plants that like the same conditions and fill the container so it looks full and lush. For more on container growing click here.

April Garden Chores

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My April garden.
Garden Inspections: Things are hopping this month in the garden, so daily walks are warranted. It also gives you an excuse to walk the garden, which is a good thing. 
Remove Winter Mulch: Remove leafy mulch that are covering tender plants if you haven't already done so. If you have used foliage from last fall, remove them from the top of plants, but keep them on top of the soil. Foliage is one of the best mulches around, so keep it in situ. 
Mulches & Mulching: Speaking of mulch now, is the time to protect garden beds from weeds, erosion, temperature extremes and reduce evaporation by laying a 3 inch layer of an organic mulch on top of the soil around plants. For more click here.
Spring Bulbs: As the flowers fade, especially on tulips and daffodils, remove spent flowers so they don't set seed, but don't cut off their leaves. Wait for them to turn yellow or dig up the bulbs being careful to keep the plants intact. Plant them in pots with soil then water and place in a bright location. Replant in the garden in fall. 
Use Your Compost: Now it's time to undo your compost bin or pile so you can place that black gold in garden beds, containers and around plants. Use a colander or remove by hand, anything that has not decomposed and place it in the bottom of the compost bin for further decomposition. 

April Plantings

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Plant asparagus now, but wait three years to harvest - drats. One more year to go for these guys.
  • Timing: A good indication that the soil is warm enough to plant hardy plants is when the daffodils start to flower. 
  • Plant ASAP: The sooner you plant trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials the better, since the longer you wait the hotter and drier it becomes, then the next thing you know its summer. For pointers on how to plant click here.
  • Wait to Plant: Tender plants such as petunias, impatiens, begonias, tomatoes, peppers, basil  until after the last day of frost. To find out what your last frost date is in your area click on your country: Canada, America, Great Britain and France.
  • Food to Plant Now: asparagus, onions, shallots, garlic, leaks, strawberries, blueberries, grapes, gooseberries, raspberries, fruit trees.
  • Drinkies: Give plants a good drink the day before planting. If the soil in their new home is dry, water it the day before also.
  • Dahlias: Plant dahlias outside when the danger of frost has past. If you want to give them a head start, plant in pots now. Click here for more.
  • Planters & Hanging Baskets: Plant them up now so they will be ready to put out in May. Keep them in a sunny area and protect them from frost. ​
  • Ferns: Remove the tattered and brown leaves from evergreen ferns and cut off the dead fronds from deciduous ones. 
  • Clematis: Prune Montana clematis and other spring flowering clematis (Group A) right after flowering. Prune Nelly Moser clematis and other midseason flowering types (Group B) now. For more on Pruning Clematis here.
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  • Need some plant love? Want more flowers to brighten up your garden, your home, your space? Plants are still available during Covid-19 in garden centres and even in grocery stores. If you don't want to venture out (understandably so) many nurseries, soil and mulch suppliers will deliver. 
  • At the nursery use gloves or disinfecting wipes in hand while you read the labels for sun preference, height, width and growing conditions. Watch out for cute little plants that grow into huge adults.​
  • And of course please follow all safe protocols. Wiping down plant pots, even the bottom of the pots wouldn't be out of line. Keep safe! 

Planting Tips

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A cloudy day is an ideal day to plant. This lovely setting is at Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver.
  • Cool, cloudy days are better than ones that are hot and sunny.
  • Avoid rainy days. It spreads diseases, fungi and compacts the soil.
  • Plant so the crown of the plant (where stem and roots meet) are level with the soil surface.
  • Loosen the roots before planting. If the roots are too potbound, use a knife to cut slits into the rootball.
  • Add bonemeal to the hole or mycorrhizal fungi onto the roots before planting according to the instructions. Don't use both together as the bone meal hinders the fungi.
  • Water well after planting, don’t rely on wet soil, soaker hoses, drip irrigation and rain.
  • To learn more about Planting Know How click here.

What to Prune

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Remove these suckers and the knob from where they emerge so they don't regrow.
  • The best time to prune most plants is just after flowering.
  • There is no need to prune all plants in spring if they are looking good and behaving. 
  • Always remove dead, diseased branches any time of year.
  • Cut off suckers and watersprouts.
  • Don’t remove more than ¼ of growth from a plant at one time.
  • If there are any stubs from previous incorrect pruning, remove them at their base.  
  • For more on Pruning click here. If you need instructions for pruning in your garden, click here to make an appointment. 
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Remove any stubs from previously incorrect pruning.

Cutting back

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Cut back heather by just after they finish flowering.
Cut back winter heather, once they have finished flowering, as well as lavenders to get them in shape for summer. Don't cut either one back too far; just below the flower spikes. This keeps plants more compact so they don't get so leggy and sparse.
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Cut back ornamental grasses to a couple of inches before they start to sport new growth.

Spring Rose Care

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This hybrid tea is Over The Moon (apparently). Prune roses when the forsythias bloom.
​Once rose canes start to produce leafy buds and forsythias go into bloom it’s rose pruning time. Cut back rose all canes by 1/3rd. Remove all dead, spindly, broken, diseased as well as old unproductive stems. Cut off canes that grow towards the plant’s centre and those that are crossing. Since roses are heavy feeders, place a few inches of compost, SeaSoil, well-rotted manure on top of the soil around the roses bush. For more on pruning Roses click here. Growing roses click here. Rose Insects & Diseases click here. Rose Types click here. 

Make More Plants!

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Take softwood cutting from your favorite trees and shrubs.
Trees & Shrubs: It's easy to grow plants with cuttings, and its fun too, especially when it works - hurray! This time of year do basal cuttings (from the roots) and softwood cuttings from new growth. To learn more about how to take cuttings click here.
Perennials: divide overcrowded perennials by digging them up. Discard the centre of the plant if it is non-productive. 

Weeds

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Creeping charlie (ground ivy) grows practically anywhere it wants.
  • Keep pulling persistent weeds: dandelions, speedwell, chickweed, buttercups and ground clover. 
  • Hand digging is an efficient way to remove most weeds, but do try to get all their roots out.
  • Don’t let weeds flower and go to seed: hand weed or at least cut off the flowers.
  • To stop weed seeds from germinating apply corn gluten to the ground. Be careful when using this granular product as it kills all seeds, not just weeds. Corn gluten does not contaminate the soil and ground water.
  • Horsetails, morning glories (bindweed) and weeds with underground stems are the most difficult to control. Don't let them start to grow! Get them as soon as they poke their wee heads out of the ground. Pull them out don’t dig them out as it spreads them even faster. For more click here.
Picture
Persistence pays off when dealing with horsetails.

Insects in the Garden

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This weird looking thing is actually a ladybug! It's their larvae and they eat even more aphids than the adult lady bug.
Leaves with a few holes here and there are no big deal, but something is amiss when a plant is devoured. Weak plants emit a hormone (ethylene) that attracts plant eating bugs. Soap and water works well to kill them on contact, but if conditions persist the insects will come right back, plus bees,other beneficial insects are also killed – tsk, tsk.
If you want the carnage to stop try to figure out why the plant is so unhappy. Incorrect growing conditions and unsuitable maintenance are often overlooked causes. 

Correct planting is also important. For ball and burlap plants, remove as much burlap as you can without breaking up the root ball. Plants also dislike being planted so high their roots are exposed, or too deeply their crown (where roots and stem meet) is buried. Click here for tips on planting.

Soggy soil and summer drought also compromises a plant’s health. Even shade loving plants don’t like deep shade. 

Lush, tender new growth is very attractive to plant munchers. This is why new spring growth is often under attack, especially by aphids. Avoiding feeding plants nitrogen too early; wait until the new growth becomes mature. To learn more about fertilizers here.
​
Squish aphids and/or hose them off. Use slug bait in slug ‘hotels’ or copper. Click here for more. Click here for ways to create barriers with cloches and other ways to control pests. For more on insects, click here.
Picture
Bacillius thuringiensis is a soil borne bacteria that only kills caterpillars. It is natural control. Avoid using in butterfly gardens!
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In the vegetable garden, place floating row covers (cloches) made of spun bonded polyester to protect plants hidden underneath from cabbage worm, leaf minor and carrot rust fly

Why USe Compost? 

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Compost keeps plants and soil healthy for bountiful harvests.
The frequent use of synthetic fertilizers injures life within the soil and reduces organic matter. To find out more from researcher Rick Haney click here. Luckily compost does a much better job to feed plants without harming a soils’ ecosystem.
 
Well-rotted compost contains nitrogen, phosphorous and potash, the main elements for plant growth. It also contains boron, zinc, magnesium, iron and other trace minerals, which are often missing from commercial fertilizers.
 
Compost also improves soil textures, adjusts soil moisture, buffers soil pH, is beneficial to soil microbes and makes food available to plants. It also doesn’t burn plants unless it is not properly decayed. Avoid using smelly or steaming compost. And don’t compost meat, fat, dairy, processed or cooked food.

To feed plants, enrich soil, balance nutrients and pH, add a few inches of compost to beds and around plants every spring. 
To learn more about Fertilizing & Feeding Plants click here. To learn about Organic Options click here. Learn what the numbers mean click here.

Mulch. As mulch breaks down, it converts into food for plants. Lay a 3 inch layer of wood chips, fallen leaves and other organic matter. Mulch also protects the soil from the elements, prevents weeds, reduces erosion, insulates soil from temperature extremes and when it decomposes it feeds plants. And keep leaf litter and other organic debris on garden beds as they also breakdown to improve soil nutrition. For more on mulch click here.
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Retrieve finished compost at the bottom of the compost bin and spread it around the garden. Any non-decomposed pieces are returned to the bin.

April Arrangement

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This monochromatic floral arrangements includes only three flowers. The centre blossom is a camelia, the surrounding star shaped flowers are azaleas and the pink hanging flower clusters with the green trident foliage are flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum).
Click here for other monthly floral arrangements. 

Plant of the month
Flowering Quince
Chaenomeles sPeciosa 


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Flowering quince blossoms are fragrant and cupped with many yellow anthers.
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The cupped and colourful flowers of Crimson & Gold flowering quince (C. x superba 'Crimson & Gold').
Picture
A flowering quince in Queen's Elizabeth Park, Vancouver.
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Flowering quince may spread through underground suckers.
Chaenomeles Superba Salmon Horizon,
Many cultivars are available from pink, orange-red, scarlet and white.
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Fragrant blossoms first appear in spring before leaves emerge.
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Crimson & Gold flowering quince is a dwarf cultivar.
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Woody thorns protect plants from predators and avid pruners.
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There are numerous cultivars available, like this pink variety. They are bred for more colours, bigger flowers and lots of them.
​Common Name:  ​Flowering quince
Botanical Name:  Chaenomeles speciosa
Form:    shrubby, dense, twiggy, oval horizontal
Family:  Rosaceae
Genus:  Chaenomeles
Species:  speciosa
Plant Type: deciduous shrub
Mature Size: 6 to 10 ft tall and wide
Growth: moderate
Origin:  China
Hardiness Zone: 4 to 8
Foliage:  simple, shiny, dark green, finely-toothed, broad-oval, green leaves to 2” long.
Flowers: March, April, fragrant scarlet blooms on fruiting spurs on old wood, 5 round petals to 1.5 wide, white stamens, blossoms before leaves emerge,
Fruit: showy, edible, greenish yellow fragrant pomes, edible, ripen in early fall
Stems: thorny, with alternate leaves
Exposure:  sun to part shade, full sun best
Soil: soil tolerant, clay, drought tolerant, prefers well-drained soil
Uses:  shrub border, erosion control, informal barrier hedge, espalier
Propagation:  layering, softwood cuttings and seeds
Pruning:  avoid heavy pruning, prune to shape as needed in spring right after flowering
​Problems:  suckers may appear from the roots, remove asap, apple scape, rust, scale, fungal leaf spot, high pH promotes yellow foliage (chlorosis).  

Comments: 
Flowering quince (C. speciosa) produce simple but pretty colourful flowers in spring before their 3 inch long foliage emerges. Each cupped-shaped fragrant flower bears many yellow stamens. Their 2 to 5 inch pome fruit is also fragrant and ripens in the fall. Although they are edible, they are best turned into preserves. They are often used as a substitute for the true quince (Cydonia oblonga).
 
Japanese quince, Maule's quince (C. japonica), is smaller than the speciosa, growing 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide, with 2 inch long foliage. Flowers are an orange scarlet.  Produces 2 inch, hard, yellow apple-shaped fruit, also suitable for jams. Zones 5 to 9
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Plants are twiggy, thorny and are excellent when used as barriers.
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Their thorny stems are laden with colourful flowers.
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The fruit from flowering quince is fragrant and makes a tasty jam.

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Learn How to Garden Introduction 
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  • Choosing a Container
Monthly Flower Arrangements
Growing Roses Introduction 
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Mulching & Types Introduction
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Fertilizing & Feeding Plants Introduction
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Propagation Introduction
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​Amanda’s Blog
Plant of the Month

for the tropical Gardener

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While working in Florida as horticultural consultant, it became apparent that there was a need for a book on tropical shrubs. There are so many wonderful shrubs to choose from, so I wrote a reference book to make the selections easier. Ornamental Tropical Shrubs includes pictures in full colour and information about the plants in point form. So if you live in the tropics and subtropics and need a reference book on tropical shrubs, or you just want to have a look-see click here. 


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