It’s the time when gardeners begin quickly clearing winter’s debris before lawn-mowing starts – and suddenly composters seem far too small.
But people with compost boxes can use those blown twigs and snipped-up shrub prunings as an aerating layer between the weeds and kitchen waste or as a good base in new compost areas.
Winter mulches should be removed to make room for planting. Also the slug eggs underneath need to be exposed to birds. The leafy and grass-clipping mulches (plus baby slugs) are best put on the compost. This is the one place where slugs belong – these critters are very good at breaking down green material.
Outside, it’s time to plant peas, broad beans, arugula, corn salad and radishes. Inside, you can start broccoli, cabbage, kale, celery, lettuce and sweet onions. A heat mat is useful for speeding up germination, but the top of a refrigerator is also a useful warm spot.
Peppers need to be started early inside because they’re not fast growers. Tomatoes, zucchini and squash are. That’s why their timing is a gamble. Because they germinate quickly and grow fast, it’s not hard to get into a situation where they’ve got so huge you have to do something, but it’s too cold to put them outside.
Heavy feeders like squash, zucchini, tomatoes and corn benefit from beds topped up with nutrients, which could be organic fertilizer or compost or manure. Compost is also a good mulch for flower beds. Some gardeners fertilize flower beds every year or two and top with bark mulch to deter weeds.
Hardy annuals that can be sown outside now include calendulas, annual poppies, Nigella, larkspur, and alyssum. As soon as we can be sure frost won’t return, nasturtiums, cosmos and phacelia can follow them.
Trees and shrubs can still be planted, but with spring plantings, it’s important to be sure you can water them regularly through hot summers. These new plantings need extra water for at least the first year.
Most potted spring-blooming bulbs can now be planted out in the garden. Hyacinths are especially useful since they are reliable bloomers and can handle shade. By now snowdrops will have finished flowering and if they’re due to be transplanted (or potted up for plant sales) this is the ideal time.
News flash: The Alpine Garden Club of B.C.’s spring show and sale will take place from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 6 in the Floral Hall, VanDusen Gardens, 5251 Oak St., Vancouver. Free admission. Sales are cash or cheque only.
Send garden questions to [email protected].
