Whoever came up with the proverb “April showers bring May flowers” didn’t live in Southern California. The rainy season is mostly over with April bringing less than an inch of rain on average. So to get those May flowers, it’s time to water. April’s also a great month for planting because what you put in the ground now will have time to get established before the weather heats up.
Here are a few more April gardening tips.
CONTROL ANTS
Studies have shown that the invasive Argentine ant will spread in years we have more rain. This year’s rain has been above average. As a result, we may have quite a battle with them, especially as the weather heats up and the soil dries out. There was a study done at UCLA where they found the most indoor infestations were during the hottest months and the ants were looking for water. They suggested to not only minimize water availability indoors, but to also plant xeric gardens near structures to keep ant nests away from them. They recommended that you provide water outside and away from buildings. This will give ants a water source outdoors and help keep them from going inside.
Hopefully we won’t be fighting indoor ant infestations for a couple more months, but you may now be seeing them in your trees. To keep them off trees, wrap a band of heavy paper or duct tape around the tree’s trunk. Coat it with something sticky, like Tanglefoot. Make sure tree branches aren’t touching the ground or other objects that would allow ants to avoid your sticky trap.
FERTILIZE
Feed your new and established plants. Because plants are actively growing, it’s time to fertilize. Use a complete fertilizer with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Our soils are often low in nitrogen, so it’s okay if your fertilizer has more nitrogen than phosphorus and potassium. Adding a layer of mulch to your soil will also help improve organic matter and hold moisture.
Fertilize your vegetables. For some veggies, the fertilizer you used when planting will be enough, but others will need more feeding. Corn and vegetables that take longer to mature like tomatoes, eggplant and peppers, will need additional fertilization.
Fertilize citrus and other fruit trees. Citrus and other mature fruit trees need high-nitrogen fertilizer. Feed citrus from February through June. For other mature fruit trees, divide the fertilizer into three equal amounts and feed them in six-weeks increments starting in spring.
PLANT
Add perennials to your garden. Try plants like alstroemeria, verbena, coreopsis and Asclepias tuberosa. Asclepias tuberosa is commonly known as butterfly weed or milkweed, and is the host plant for monarch butterflies.
This is also a good time to plant subtropicals like bougainvillea, gardenia, avocado and citrus.
If you’re planting annuals, switch from spring blooming annuals to summer bloomers like zinnias, asters, cosmos, yarrow, gazania, marigolds and sunflowers. They won’t fade as our weather warms up.
A lot of information for April Gardening Tips 2019 comes from the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County. They are a great resource for all of your gardening needs including planting, pests, vegetables, and water use. They even have a free hotline where you can get your home gardening and pest control problems answered.