April in

Fayette County is the visual definition of spring.

Flowering

dogwood trees and azaleas fill gardens, landscapes, parks

and woodlands. Everything is a blaze of green and color.

Visitors to our county cannot believe the beauty found

around Fayette. There are more azaleas, camelias and

dogwoods in the South than any place in the world.

Gardeners need no further inspiration to get outdoors and

start bringing our winter dreams to fruition.

Gardening

is fun in April because the weather is ideal, there is

plenty to do and there is no lack of motivation. It is

also very important to get a lot done before the warmer

months of summer. Spring flowers are awesome to behold,

but gardeners know that the greatest beauty of spring is

in the way that Mother Nature brings the plants and

themselves back to life.

The

following is a calendar of things to do in the garden

during April.

- Plant trees . They have plenty

of time to get well established before the heat of summer

sets in. Look for container grown trees, many of which

will be in full color in many local garden centers. This

gives you a good idea of what it would look like in your

landscape. Check the tags and the labels on the

containers for accurate information regarding their size

and width.

When

planting, use a general fertilizer like 10-10-10 in the

soil, and use plenty of organic matter like humus, manure

and Nature's Helper to condition the soil and allow for

air, water and fertilizer to reach the roots for maximum

growth success.

It is also

important to remember to give your trees plenty of water.

With the drought conditions we are currently in, it is a

good rule of thumb to water weekly at least two to three

minutes for every foot of the height of the tree. Also,

make sure you water out where the roots are growing and

not just up around the trunk.

- Prune and fertilize . Many

shrubs and woody ornamentals will also be finishing up

their bloom cycle in April, which is a good time to prune

and fertilize. Many shrubs will benefit from special

azalea, camellia and rhododendron foods which provide

acidity and other minerals which evergreens need to help

green them up in the spring.

Now is also

the time to prune roses. Add some organic matter to the

soil and some new mulch around the base of roses. New

systemic rose products can provide good protection by

being applied to the soil and taken up through the plants

root system.

- Inspect . It is a good idea to

walk around the garden at least once a week to look for

damage or problems to shrubs. Discoloration or sudden

changes in the plants color or holes appearing in the

leaves or stems are cause for action. Spraying with an

insecticide or insecticidal soap can prevent further

damage.

- Prepare the soil . The

nurseries are brimming with flowering annuals and

perennials, but as we found out last weekend there is

still a chance of freezing weather. Perennials will not

be affected by the cold, but annuals need warm soil and

sunlight to truly flourish.

Soil

preparation for annuals and perennials is critical as

they do not grow in clay soil and need to have

well-drained soil to do well. Organics will help achieve

the right soil mixture for maximum growth and a slow

release fertilizer followed by a water soluble fertilizer

will support the growth of the roots systems and blooms.

Annuals

need to produce at their maximum during the summer months

and a feeding every two weeks will help make that

possible. Also, remove spent blooms and pinch off new

growth in the beginning to help the plant produce more

flowers and enlarge in size.

- Plant vegetables . April is

also the single most active vegetable gardening month.

First, it is important to have your soil tested. After

tilling up your soil, take ten scoops of soil from the

area to the County Extension Service in Fayetteville with

$5 in cash. They will send your soil to the University of

Georgia Horticulture Department. Make sure you note what

you want to grow in the areas that you are having tested

(for each bag of soil). Within 5-10 days, the results

will be back, telling you what the pH level of acidity is

in the soil and what amendments you need to add to grow

the various vegetables you may wish to plant.

In

selecting a site to grow vegetables, make sure that it is

an area that gets at least six hours of sunlight a day.

Your rows should run north to south so that the sunlight

shines evenly over the entire garden area. Dig up your

soil at least 12-14 inches deep and add the amendments

such as lime, humus and Nature's Helper to prepare the

soil for planting. Your warm weather vegetables can be

planted once the danger of frost is past and the ground

is warm.

Fertilize

as you plant with a 10-10-10 or 5-10-15 which will last

for abut six weeks. Continue to fertilize every six weeks

during the growing season. Fertilizer should be applied

at a rate of one pound per 10 feet or row. Watch for

insects and disease after planting and be careful about

the amount of insecticide used. Mulch the garden area

heavily with grass clippings or wheat straw to prevent

weeds and conserve moisture.

- Enjoy . By the end of April,

the day light hours will be longer and the weather will

be much more predictable. Enjoy these days of preparation

for the warm months to come. There is time for everything

and the beauty of April's weather allows you to savor the

moment and to enjoy the beauty of a Fayette County early

spring day.