• Warm season grasses (Zoysia, Bermuda, Buffalograss): After April 15th mow short 1 ½ to 2 inches one time only. Check back May 1st for fertilization program for warm season grasses.
• See Toby's Lawn Program for the spring fertilization program for cool season grasses.
• Keep mower blades sharp. On average sharpen mower blades after every 10 hours of use. Mower height for bluegrass will be 2 ½ to 3 inches and for fescue 3 inches.
• Crabapple, Apple: To control cedar-apple rust and apple scab, spray with Immunox Fungicide and Spreader Sticker approximately every two weeks from mid-April until early June.
• If not done in March, remove tree wrap from trees and check mulch. Mulch 2 to 3 inches high and keep mulch 4 to 6 inches away from trunks.
• Prune dead or injured tree branches.
• Prune spring flowering shrubs; Mock orange, Lilac, Forsythia, Quince, and Vanhoutte spirea within three weeks after flowering.
• Don't prune tender shrubs; Crepe myrtle, Butterfly bush until new growth starts late April, early May.
• There are several diseases (Sphaeropsis, Dothistroma, Brown spot disease) that attack our pine trees, primarily Austrian and Scotch pine. Since these diseases can kill our pines and the best fungicides for control are not available to the homeowner, I only recommend that they be controlled by a commercial company.
My favorite:
Mike Dougherty
Tree Management Company
913-894-8733
• Outdoor planting dates:
| Asparagus | 4/1 - 4/20 | ||
| Rhubarb | 4/1 - 4/20 | ||
| Beans | Bush, green | 4/15 - 5/20 | |
| Pole, green | 5/1 - 5/20 | ||
| Bush, yellow | 4/15 - 5/20 | ||
| Bush, lima | 5/1 - 5/25 | ||
| Pole, lima | 5/10 - 5/25 | ||
| Corn | 4/25 - 8/1 | ||
| Carrots | until 4/5 | ||
| Beets | until 4/15 | ||
| Lettuce Leaf | until 5/10 | ||
| Onion | until 4/15 | ||
| Brussel Sprouts | until 4/10 | ||
| Cauliflower | until 4/20 | ||
| Cabbage | until 4/20 | ||
| Potato | until 4/10 | ||
| Peas | until 4/15 | ||
| Radish | until 5/10 | ||
| Broccoli | until 4/10 | ||
| Spinach | until 4/20 | ||
| Turnip | until 5/1 | ||
| Kohlrabi | until 4/15 |
• Start cantaloupe, cucumber, summer squash and watermelon seeds indoors April 1 to 15.
• Plants started indoors should be hardened off outdoors at least a week before planting. Set them outdoors when temperatures are above 40 degrees during the day and bring them back in during the night. Set them in shady protected areas first and gradually give them more sun each day.
• Thin root crops (beets, carrots, turnips) to 4 inches apart to allow room for developing.
• Till or hand spade cotton burr compost into the vegetable garden before planting.
• Harvest asparagus spears that are more than 3/8 inch in diameter and 6 to 8 inches tall. Stop harvesting when most of the emerging spears are thinner than a pencil.
• Plant dwarf or semi-dwarf fruit trees. They are much easier to take care of than standard size fruit trees. Check out starkbros.com my favorite fruit tree company.
• Prune blackberry and raspberry plants.
• Remove mulch from roses and prune back 8 to 10 inches from the ground (Hybrid Teas, Grandifloras, Floribundias).
• Start fertilizing roses. Use Bayer All-In-One Rose and Flower Care. It's all you will need for fertilizing, insect and disease control. Apply every four to six weeks until Mid-August.
• If not done in March, clean perennial beds removing all weeds and dead foliage.
• Divide and plant perennials.
• Prepare the soil for annual flower beds. Spade or till in Cotton Burr Compost, but don't spade or till if the soil is wet.
• Start planting annuals toward end of month.
• Check air pressure in tires for better gas mileage.
• Clean or replace furnace filter.
• Vacuum refrigerator coils.
• Fill low spots around foundation. Make sure the ground slopes away from the house.
• Drain the sediment off the bottom of the water heater tank.
• Time for air conditioner check up.
Call Anthony Plumbing, Heating & Cooling
913-384-4440
• Apply Preen to all landscape and flower beds to reduce weeds.
• Natural Grass and Weed Killer: mix 1 cup salt to 1 qt. warm water and add to 1 gal. vinegar.
• To help keep insects (ants, cockroaches, crickets, etc.) from setting up home in your home, treat the outside with Spectracide Triazicide and follow label directions.
