If the lawn had a crabgrass problem last year it will have a crabgrass problem again this year, unless you correct the situation. Crabgrass is an annual grass which germinates when the soil temperature climbs above 55°. To prevent crabgrass from germinating a crabgrass preventer must be applied at the right time. The ideal tool for knowing when to apply the product is an inexpensive soil thermometer. Each area of the lawn will warm up at different times; the area next to sidewalks and curbs will warm faster than the center of the lawn. If the lawn is exposed to more sun it will warm up faster than shady areas. That’s why it’s important to measure the soil temperature and apply the product at the right time. Application of Bachman’s Crabgrass Preventer is when the soil temperature is between 52° and 54°.
Generally, in the Twin Cities the right time is around the first of May. Spring seems to be running a little late this year so don’t be too worried about getting it down the first of May. There will be at least two weeks in May that Crabgrass preventer will be very effective. Tip: When the lilacs are in bud it’s time to take the soil’s
temperature.
Bulbs After the Bloom
As soon as the spring flowering bulbs like tulips, daffodils and hyacinth are finishing up their blooming cycle the flower stem should be removed just below the spent flower. This will
prevent the bulb from going to seed. If bulbs produce seed
they put more energy into
seed production and less
energy into building up the
bulb for the next season’s
bloom. Also leave all green
growth alone until it turns
yellow and dies back
naturally. Right after the
blooms fade it’s
recommended that a bulb food be applied to all spring
flowering bulbs. This spring, fertilizing will help give the bulbs the energy they need to come back strong next spring.
There are a number of perennials that grow and bloom in early spring and then go dormant when the heat of the summer comes. These are wonderful perennials that should be in any perennial garden. But when they go dormant they leave a hole in the garden. To solve that problem, plan on planting annuals in their place. By planting a few cosmos seeds in late spring near these summer dormant perennials you produce a sea
of color the rest of the summer. Some summer dormant
perennials include Fern leaf peony, bleeding heart,
Oriental poppy and the little bulb grape hyacinth.
Dividing Perennials
Early spring is a great time to dig and divide perennials. General rule of thumb on which perennials should be divided now and which should be done at
another time is this, fine rooted
perennials need to be divided in the spring and heavy thick rooted perennials need to be divided in late summer and fall. Examples of spring divided perennials include:
Yarrow, lady’s mantle, aster, Astilbe, campanula, coreopsis, coneflower, most grasses, monarda, salvia and veronica to name a few. Dig and divide when the plants are just
sprouting in the spring.
Tips
• Prune roses back to a strong outward facing bud.
• Use a soil thermometer to check soil temperature;
warm loving plants like Impatiens will do better with
soil temperatures 62° F or higher.
• The hardiest shrub roses are those that are pink and
have no fragrance (this goes back to their wild beginnings). Most of these roses are naturally disease resistant
and ruggedly hardy.
Did you know?
Landscaping your yard is the only home improvement that can return up to 200% of your original investment.
Flowers and gifts from Bachman’s make any day a special one. When you order your flowers or gifts online, you know you’ll be getting a beautiful fresh floral arrangement from a trusted florist known for outstanding floral design, plus quality and service.
If you’re sending flowers or gifts out of town, you can rely on us to choose the best florist from either the FTD or Teleflora nationwide flower network. Florists who can be counted on to deliver the best fresh floral arrangements and gifts, even when doing a same day delivery.
