Long Island Horticultural Society

What's Going on in the Garden

April To Do List

Send a sample of your soil into your local county extension so that they can test it. It is the only scientific way to know what (if anything) needs to be added to your soil. Once your results come back, amend your soil as directed by your extension.

Turn over your compost pile to help it break down faster.

Inspect shrubs and trees for winter damage. Remove dead or damaged branches.

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Direct sow cool-season vegetables and flowers once you can work the soil easily. Cool Season veggies Include: Lettuces, broccoli & cauliflower, cabbages, bok choi, radishes, beets, snap peas ect.

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Start to harden off cool-season seedlings that you will transplant at the end of the month. Cool season flowers include: Sweet Alyssum, Dwarf Snapdragons, Dianthus (Sweet William) Osteospermum (African Daisy), Mimulus (Monkey flower), Annual Phlox like "Popstars", Calendula, Ranunculus

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Divide perennials that bloom in summer or fall. Move existing plants to new locations, if desired.

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Plant perennials early for best root growth.

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Where the foliage of early perennials and bulb plants is poking up through the soil, remove enough of the mulch on top of them so that they can emerge unimpeded.

Top-dress gardens with compost or well-rotted manure, and spread mulch to get a jump on weed control and conserve moisture.

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Don't prune spring-blooming shrubs until after they finish flowering.

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Set up stakes or cages for potentially floppy perennials, such as delphiniums, peonies, hollyhocks, and catmint before they reach one foot high.