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April Gardening Ideas and Things to Do in the yard.

Published : April 10, 2016

66 Comments

Morning Light Ornamental Grass

Morning Light Ornamental Grass

April is a busy time of the year for gardeners.
Lots and lots to do!

Early spring is the ideal time to divide ornamental grasses just before, or just as they are starting to grow.  A few years ago I made a movie about that process, you can watch that here.

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Early spring is also the ideal time to divide hostas.  Just dig out the clump just at the eyes start to show, before the leaves unfurl and divide into two or three clump eyes.

Same for most perennials, they can often be torn into pretty small pieces, replanted and take off growing like crazy.

Early spring is a great time to transplant any trees that need it and late in the fall I Wrote this Article about that Process.
Keep in mind that transplanting season starts around Thanksgiving and ends in the very early spring as soon as plants make leaves.  Once plants leaf out you can no longer dig them.  You can plant all summer long, if you have plants that you purchased in a container or balled in burlap.  There is little to no root damage when sliding a plant out of a container and planting it.  But digging a plant does severe root damage and will shock and could kill the plants.

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It’s okay to cut into my skull as long as I’m out cold!

Transplanting trees and shrubs is like doing surgery on a human being.  If we are under anesthesia and knocked out cold doctors can cut our bones, grind the end of our bones, cut into our skulls and do all kinds of crazy things to us, but if they were to try that when we were awake we most certainly would go into shock and likely die.  Same with plants.  Cut those roots only when they are sleeping!

Lawn Care

Lawn Care

Lawn Fertilization and Lawn Weed Control.

I fired my lawn care company.  Actually I fired them all over a period of years.  I’m not crazy about fertilizing my own lawn because for whatever reason pushing that spreader across the lawn murders my back.  Many things murder my back, but for some reason that seems to be worse and once you start across the lawn you really don’t want to stop.  I end up with serious back spasms.

Okay, lame excuse at best.

But for a number of years I just opted to pay a lawn care company to take care weeds and fertilizing my lawn.  But working with those companies was a very unpleasant experience because they did a terrible job, the lawn did not look good and it was always full of weeds.  Much to my dismay we water the lawn in the summer just to keep it alive.  It should have looked fantastic.

So I fired them all and but they keep calling.  Finally I told one of the guys on the phone that kept bugging this . . .

The one thing that you have going for you is that you all suck!
So you’re as good as the rest, please don’t call me anymore.

Normally I’m not like that, but if you call me at 8:30 in the evening trying to sell me something, I’m probably not going to be very nice to you.  But my point in tell you that is to tell you this . . .

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I’m doing the lawn myself and it looks fantastic!

Honestly I don’t understand it.  It’s not that I am talented or any kind of a lawn fertilization expert.  All I did was go to a big box store and buy three bags of Scott’s Turf Builder and spread them on the lawn.

First application contains fertilizer, broad-leaf weed control and a pre-emergent for crabgrass so that has to go down early before the soil temperatures get above 45 degrees F.

Second and third applications are fertilizer and broad-leaf weed control.  I put the second one in May then don’t apply the third application until September when it cools down and we get some rain.

That’s it!  That’s all I did and my lawn looked great all year.

It was a lot cheaper than paying a lawn care company and both Pam and I are much happier with the lawn.  It looked great going into the winter and it looks great now in early spring and I haven’t made that first application yet.

Mark your calendar, to check your lawn for grubs!

Last fall I noticed that Japanese beetle grubs we devouring the roots of my grass so I applied a lawn insecticide but I was late getting to it so I’m going to apply it earlier this year.  I took the time to write an article with lots of gross photos for you.  When I did that article last fall some guy got all huffy with me because I didn’t do the article in August.  I had to explain to him that I actually have a life and a couple of businesses to run, 20 or 30 thousand plants to care for and Two Donkeys to Keep Fed.  But anyway, this year the article is ready.

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Mark your Calendar for Grub Control in late July or early August.

That’s the best time to apply grub control because the grubs are closest to the surface at that time of the year.  The Japanese beetles lay eggs in the grass, the eggs hatch, then grubs going to work destroying the roots of your grass before they burrow deep into the soil.

23 Landscaping Ideas!

23 landscaping ideas

Awhile back I did this post, 23 Landscaping Ideas, that has been pretty popular.  Might give you a few ideas that you can use at your house.  Spring is a great time to tackle landscaping or re-landscaping projects.

How to Edge Your Beds.

This seems a little crazy to me, but people are always asking me; “Mike, how do you get that edge on your beds so neat?”  So I did a video!  But I also remember doing a video about edging with the donkeys helping but I can’t find that one, so if you happen to know where on youtube we hid that video, post the link in a comment below and I’ll send you a free gardening tool.  It was a video of me demonstrating edge a curved bed but the donkeys wouldn’t leave me alone and had their noses in the dirt.

Anyway, this movie is about edging beds.

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Okay, that’s enough to keep you busy for a while.  Questions or comments, post them below.

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Also the donkeys need your support in their bid for the White House, be sure to share their page.

Comments

  1. Great information Mike. Thank You. I am about to receive in May a bunch of bare root sand cherriy trees , about 18″ in 7B IN NC. After ordering Ive been told it is too late to plant them here. Also there will be many I cant get in the ground so will have to pot them up. what medium should I pot them in? planning on 2-3 gallon pots which I have on hand. Ive been told potting soil (expensive for 150-200 pots) , compost,, and hardwood bark mulch.. Needless to say I’m confused. Could you share your thoughts on the timing and the potting medium? Thanks in advance for your consideration.

    Reply

    • Ken,

      It’s never really too late to plant or pot anything. It can get too late to dig things, but not plant them. Compost and bark mulch are good options. It’s better if the bark mulch is decomposed. Pine bark is also good and plentiful in North Carolina. See this Here are some tips on getting good potting soil;

      Looking online for mulch is probably not the best place to look because many of the dealers who sell mulch really have little to no web presence at all. I’m sure there has to be some hardwood bark available in New Jersey.

      I’d pick up the phone and start calling around. Garden Centers, landscapers and excavators will know who sells bulk hardwood bark mulch. These dealers are often hidden away on some side street.

      I’d take a full day and visit as many garden centers and nurseries in your area that you can. Browse, ask some casual questions.

      1. Do you know of anybody in the area that sells bulk mulch.

      2. Do you know of anybody in the area that sells bulk potting soil.

      3. What do most growers around here use as a potting mix.

      Bulk potting soil is available, usually around $55 a yard, but worth it. But it’s not readily available in all areas and in most cases you need to send a truck to get it.

      But it won’t cost anything to ask these questions. You’ll either get really good, answers, might get the brush off, or you might find somebody who loves to talk about growing plants and will bury you in valuable information.

      Good info here about potting soil, https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2014/12/mike-mcgroartys-secret-bed-building-and-potting-soil-recipe/

      and here;
      https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2015/10/how-to-make-your-own-awesome-potting-soil/

      Reply

  2. Hi Mike, Love your site! Have a question about how to find an answer you sent me quite awhile ago. Tried to get back to the answer, but have never seen it again. I wanted one of the tree cups for attaching to a limb and starting a new tree from the old. You said you no longer dealt with them, but sent me a web site where I could go and get some. The site didn’t work, whether I typed it in wrong or it had closed I don’t know, but, if you have time could you send it to me again? Thanks again and you are on my bucket list to visit.

    Reply

  4. Hi Mike .I want to start off by thanking you for all your help.I have see all your videos .I do have a question I just dug up some naked ladys And planted them on a hill So my poor husband does not have to weed wacky on the hill Do you think it will work And do you have any ideas on what would work for this? I also have another question, we have a pond and there is some parts of the hill that has water spill off So it is wet I would like to know what plant takes good to water that would work for planting on a hill.Thank you Linda

    Reply

    • Linda,

      What ever you plant on that hill is going to have to be aggressive, planted pretty close together and should be mulched so the plants have a chance before the weeds take over. I”m going to pass on the wet area because I really don’t know, don’t know how wet etc.

      Reply

  5. Weeds, weeds, weeds! We have had a crazy wet Spring, and every dormant seed in the soil is sprouting and flourishing! My nice neighbor does not do much to control his weeds, just runs over them with the lawnmower once in a while, but they still go to seed. The back yard milkweed is peeping over the fence and billowing seed every time the wind blows.
    The California poppies are blooming in the front yard. So bright and pretty. I harvest seed for my several grandkids scattered all over the country.

    Reply

  6. Hi Mike, I just signed up for some of your awesome information, I think I did a few years ago but never got to it so I wanted to rejoin up. I am very interested in all that you have to share but it seems like so much and I’m not sure what all you offer, I don’t want to miss out. Do you have one place where you list all the stuff that’s available? I got your plans for the propagation box and have been working on building a few already. I live in Ohio not too far away near route 422 in Trumbull county. I was wondering if you would share where you get your mulch, sand and those silica stones you mentioned, I cant wait to start doing some rooting. I was also wondering if you can or have taken cuttings from a Catalpa Tree and is there only one variety?

    Reply

  7. Hi Mike,
    Thank you for all of the information you share and for teaching me many things!
    I’m pretty sure the video with you edging the bed with the donkeys was in the how to dig/start a new flowerbed – not exactly sure of the title, but I watched it a couple times last summer!
    Hope that helps!

    Reply

  8. Hi mike! I’d like to propagate pink almond bushes.. is there anything special that i need to do or fellow the same steps for the scrubs I saw you in your YouTube video.

    Reply

  10. I live in Reading, PA. And like everyone else. I’m taking advantage of the beautiful weather and cleaning fee up my garden.

    I accidentally snapped off a budding branch of a 1yr. Old Rhododendron. What should I do?? I remember reading about transplanting it with rapid root. I don’t know if I should keep it in the house or plant it outside…it’s 7pm and I’m going to run out of daylight soon.

    Desperate,
    Lynn P.

    Reply

    • Lynn,

      There’s really nothing you can do. It’s very unikely that the Rhododendron branch. They are tricky to root under ideal situations. The remaining part of the plant might be fine, all you can do is wait and see.

      Reply

  11. April in California is amazing. We went on a short wildflower hike yesterday amd saw sweeps of tidytips, brodea, ow;s clover and California poppies. If ever you thought about visiting California, this is the year!

    Reply

  12. Hello Mike,

    I really enjoy watching and reading all your e-mails I went and dug this vid up before reading all the comments. I see that you have had several people paste the address for you but here is mine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_2HHqyKsJo .. I have watched your youtube collection several times.. late at night when I get off work and cant sleep or work in the yard…

    as always stay inspired,
    Tcat

    Reply

      • Hello Mandy here I have a outside flower bed rite under the window and a flower bed under that the sun never shines there what can for flowers can I grow there that won’t grow up past the window I love colors and this will be my first time planting

        Reply

  13. Those mow and blow guys use the same equipment from house to house thereby spreading weed and unwanted grass seeds.

    If I didn’t hate to mow, I would fire my guy, too. Thinking about going xeriscape!

    Reply

    • Sue,

      We’ve always cut our own grass, I just tried to get somebody to take care of fertilization and weeds. I hate to say this, but they were all terrible.

      Reply

  14. Mike, you seem to know a lot about everything green!! Can you tell me when & how to start clematis cuttings? I tried before by following some instructions I found on the internet, but that failed. Now that I know about you, I would like to try again with your help!! Please, whenever you have the time. Thank you so much.

    Reply

    • Jackie,

      Not much of a fern expert, I really need to add some to my nursery. But I think you’d safe doing them now just as they are emerging or in the fall.

      Reply

  16. I once had a Farmer Friend tell me Quote:(The Lawn Service has a package for one (1) lawn), He uses as well as most Farmers in the Erie Penna. area an Agriculture and A PLUG of soil, such as Pennsylvania Agriculture run by Penn. State. Made Sense to Me. Also LOVE Your Site, Look forward to seeing it on Our Computer.

    Reply

  17. Mike, I have two 15″ tall arbavortae next to the front of my house that need to be moved. They are not too close to the house but are getting to the point where they are just too big. is there any way of saving these bushes. They are very nice looking and I would like to save and relocate if possible.

    Reply

    • Richard,

      I’m assuming you mean fifteen feet tall. I’d say that they can be moved, but you have to be sure to move them when dormant and get plenty of root ball with them. One foot of root ball for every one inch of tree caliper measured 6″ from the soil line. Here in Ohio it would still be safe to dig them right now, April 13th, but time is running out. Digging season for evergreens typically ends at the end of April.

      Reply

  18. That’s awesome!! Those are some great ideas! I have just been cleaning up dead leaves and chopping down brambles. Wish I could train the deer to eat thornbushes but alas. My friend from Oregon sent me a snotty text asking which sign will be in my yard–Trump, Kasich or Cruz–so I will need a sign with the donkeys on it!! They have my vote. I may even vote twice!!

    Reply

  19. Hi Mike, I have reading and watching your videos for quite some time now. There is a lot of information you send over. Great stuff! I’m almost there setting up my back yard growing business.
    Purchased some liners last year and ready for propagating new plants. When I’m ready with enough small plants I intend to join your growers list. Over the winter I used some cuttings of my 35 year old European Bay Leaf tree, used your idea of a sand base and made about 25 new cuttings with many roots . Thanks for all ideas and support. Glenn

    Reply

    • Glenn,

      That’s great, wishing you great success. Don’t wait too long to join, it’s easy to make mistakes that you haven’t thought of. We all keep our members on the right track.

      Reply

  24. Hi Mike, you have a great site here! I just watched the video about dividing clumps of ornamental grasses. It was great, but I’ve done similar dividing jobs by soaking the clumps in water in a tub before I start cutting up the clumps. Just washing away some of the dirt makes some natural divisions come apart. Have you ever done it that way?
    Linda in New Hampshire

    Reply

    • Linda,

      No, I have not tried soaking them but I can see where it might help. The true secret is to divide them before they get big and the roots as hard as a bowling ball.

      Reply

  25. Mike. I saw your video about “sticking” cuttings and I did so before I saw another video that said only do it in the fall. The good news,,they’re growing now. Is that ok? Bob in Nebraska.

    Reply

  27. I just watched your video on edging your garden and was wondering how often you have to do it? I was wanting to purchase a weed eater but not sure if it’s necessary to buy. Thank you for posting your videos.

    Reply

    • Vickie,

      My landscaping at home is laid out in such a way that I never use a string trimmer at home. I edge the beds lightly once a year, or I spray around the edge, just let the mower deck hang over the edge of the bed.

      Reply

  28. Hi Mike

    I enjoy all your videos. I use a lot of your ideas and they always turn out well. Hope we can start our garden soon here in De. we are having a lot of rain and high wind.
    Thanks for all your helpful ideas/

    Reply

    • Thanks Scott, I appreciate that. Did I promise something for finding that video? I can’t remember! I’ll have to go back and read the article.

      Reply

  30. Mike thank you so much for all the knowledge you have on your websites. I am excited to get started on my backyard nursery. I feel that this is just what our family needs to enjoy working outside and make ends meet.
    God bless you!

    Reply

  31. Dear Mike I was surfing websights for how to care for the different plants I have in the yard and came across your sight and all I can say is you are the answer to my prayers. Thank you for the easy instructions on pruning and how to start new rooting s

    Reply

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