The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

April Horticulture Reminders

Below is a list of reminders from the Montana Gardener’s book of days (EB 165), and other writings by Bob Gough, former MSU Extension Horticultural Specialist.

• Prune fruit trees, berry bushes, ornamental trees and summer flowering shrubs before bud swell. Always prune to a branch, because a stub will decay and affect the longevity of the tree.

• Graft fruit trees just as the first buds on the tree begin to swell.

• Apply dormant oil sprays to fruit trees and other plants when the temperature is expected to remain above 45 degrees for at least six hours. Horticultural oils are manufactured specifically for pest control on trees and ornamentals. They degrade rapidly through evaporation and have almost no toxicity to humans or wildlife if used at labeled rate. The major use in Chouteau County is for predatory mites, which cause unsightly galls on poplar trees.

• Prepare the garden soil if it is dry enough, turning under plenty of organic matter such as compost or rotted manure. If the soil sticks to the shovel, the soil is to wet. Wait a few days to minimize compaction of garden soil.

• Uncover asparagus and rhubarb beds.

• Remove protective wrapping from trees.

• Plant onion sets when soil temperature approaches 50 degrees, spinach and carrots when soil temperature is above 45 degrees and peas and lettuce when soil temperature is above 40 degrees.

• Apply fresh mulch to perennials and shrubs if you did not apply in the fall.

• Fertilize woody ornamentals, perennial beds and rhubarb with a hand full of complete fertilizer (14-14-14 or another fertilizer with equal amounts of N-P-K)

• Dethatch if the thatch layer is more then half an inch thick. Dethatching allows air and moisture to come in which decomposes the thatch. Dethatching should be completed just before the grass begins to grow.