April 2026 Tips

Dear Gardening Friends, Spring has been trying to come but it’s been a slow, cold, rainy and windy slog! As I write this the snow has finally melted but who knows what April will bring?! There are things to be done in the garden, but patience is definitely required. - It’s best for nature not to remove too much leaf litter and plant stems left up over the winter as they are both good habitat for beneficial insects. So, when do you clean up? The best advice is to wait for a week of consistently above 50 temps. This gives the insects and larva a chance to come out. - It’s OK to leave leaves in the garden if they aren’t smothering the crowns of plants/bulbs and prohibiting their growth. If leaves are deep over the crown of a plant or where bubs are emerging just fluff them up with a rake. - Thanks to the cool March there is still plenty of time to prune. Remember not to prune any spring blooming shrubs until after they bloom. If you need advice on pruning, call for a consultation. We can work through it together and you will learn proper pruning techniques for the future. You can also look up pruning advice on specific trees and shrubs at any “.edu” or botanical Garden site. Don’t go to chat rooms to get advice, it may not be accurate. - If your tree/shrub has broken or damaged branches those should be pruned back to a main branch or stem. Don’t leave stubs is one of the basic rules of pruning. - Before starting any pruning or gardening chores clean and sharpen your tools. It makes a HUGE difference. Even your shovels will dig better after cleaning and sharpening. You can use a regular knife/pruner sharpening blade for shovels. Give it a try, you’ll be amazed. - If you have lesser celandine now is the time to act. PRISM (Partnership for Invasive Species Management for NYS) recommends painting Roundup right on the leaves when the emerge when it’s 50 degrees BEFORE they bloom. Wear a mask and gloves and use a paintbrush straight from the container. This method will kill the plant but not harm nearby vegetation. Once they bloom the Roundup will kill the leaves but the bulbets below ground will remain viable. For more info and photos go to: https://extension.psu.edu/dont-be-deceived-by-this-beguiling-springtime-plant - Be mindful not to walk on the soft wet ground. If you leave a footprint, stay off. Whatever it is can wait till the soil dries out a little. - Rake or sweep up the road grit from the driveway and road edges. You can also rinse the area down with a hose to dilute the salt and road chemicals. - There seems to be a lot of black knot fungus on flowering cherry and plum trees. It can affect ornamental and fruit bearing trees. The affected sections look like swollen black knots on the branches and should be pruned out 8 inches away from the “knot”. This is a highly contagious fungal disease so don’t ignore it. Disinfect your tools after working on an infected tree. For information go to: http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/factsheets/blackknot.pdf - Ornamental grass should be cut back before the new growth starts so now is a good time. Wear long sleeves as they have “razor” edges which is why deer don’t eat them. - Don’t be in a rush to divide or move perennials. The soil should be above 50 degrees and form a loose clump in your hand before you start any moving or dividing. Again, patience pays off in the end. It’s doubtful we will be able to do anything other than clean up and weed for the next few weeks. A lot will depend on how much rain we get and temperatures. Garden Consult: Now is a good time to start planning changes and improvements for your garden. Just contact me for an appointment to get a head start on the season. I’m also available for a pruning consult. You can learn proper pruning techniques, and do it yourself in the future. A garden or pruning consult will save you time and money in the long run. Lessons from Nature and Amanda’s Garden Perennial Plant Sale will be on Saturday, May 16 th 8:00- 2:00. Put it on your calendar so you won’t miss it. More details will be in the May Garden Tips along with a list of available plants. Happy Gardening! Lyn Chimera Lessons from Nature 170 Pine St. E. Aurora, NY 14052 [email protected] 716-652-2432 Copyright © 2023 Lessons From Nature, All rights reserved. You're receiving this message because you requested to receive Lessons from Nature newsletters. unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences