Digging in

By LESLIE CRAWFORD

Over the next few months, gardens will start to come alive again. With the days getting longer, for many of us, the itch to get our hands in the dirt is real. Weeds will be out in force, especially with all the rain we got earlier in the year, so weeding should be a priority to make sure plants don’t get choked out.

It’s time to get ready for the Coronado Flower Association’s annual Home Front Judging (March 31 to April 2) and Coronado Flower Show (April 15-16). If you are looking for inspiration, check out one of the many garden tours throughout San Diego County this spring. Organizations offering tours include the San Diego Horticultural Society, the California Native Plant Society, the La Jolla Historical Society and the Mission Hills Garden Club. It’s a great way to get ideas.

To help make your garden look its best, we’ve put together a to-do list for the next few months.

Ladybugs are beneficial in the garden, keeping aphids in check. Sweet peas (left) are easy to grow and so satisfying when they bloom in the spring. Continuous clipping of flowers will promote a longer blooming period.

• Fertilizing is a big focus in March. The rain we’ve had is a good thing, but a lot of nutrients get washed away. Nitrogen, especially, has been depleted. Consult with your favorite nursery about which fertilizers you should be using for different plants. It’s important to feed plants, because they are getting ready for some major growth as we head toward summer.

Be sure to give edible, leafy greens enough water and fertilizer, otherwise lettuces will be tough and bitter.

• We are probably at the end of our rainy period, so make sure your irrigation is turned on once you notice the soil is drying. Make any needed repairs to your system before the weather heats up.

• Houseplants need some TLC after being inside with windows closed and heaters on. Dusty leaves and accumulated minerals in the soil can leave plants vulnerable to disease and pests. An easy way to refresh them is to put them in the shower and wash them down liberally to clean the leaves and flush the soil. Then add some fresh soil as a top dressing.

April is National Garden Month and the height of flower shows and garden tours in Southern California. Remember, if you want to enter growing plants in a show, clean detritus around the plant and clean off the outside of the pot, too. The judges pay attention to that kind of thing.

• Warmer weather means that pests are waking up, ready to feast in your garden. Aphids are attracted to fresh growth and will start to appear on roses, flowers, vegetables and fruit trees. Aphids suck fluid out of plants, creating a sticky honeydew that attracts ants, which in turn protect the aphids.

Ants indicate a higher level of aphid infestation so keeping them under control helps keep the aphid population down. Blast plants with water first, but if the problem gets out of hand, be more aggressive with an insecticidal soap. Keep a spray bottle of Safer insecticidal soap handy to spot treat when needed.

• If you have plants with frost damage (yes, we do get frost on occasion in Coronado), wait to prune the dead foliage until you start to see new growth.

This potted epiphyllum is happy on a north-facing wall with an hour of morning sunlight. Epiphyllums are native to tropical forests and don’t like to dry out. Water them regularly but don’t let them sit in water.

• Prune spring flowering shrubs such as azaleas, camellias, forsythia and lilac when they finish blooming, because they bloom on year-old growth.

• Roses need about 1½ inches of water twice weekly this month. They are working hard with all the blooming that’s going on.

• Mulch a 2-inch layer of organic matter around your annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs to suppress weeds and hold in moisture. When the weather warms up, it will also keep the roots cool. Mulching around roses is a great way to keep them evenly moist and help prevent fungus growth by reducing splashing water and spreading spores.

Do not mulch around warm-season vegetables right now because they really need the heat around their roots.

• The weather has warmed up enough to plant melons, squash, tomatoes, peppers, beans and eggplant.

• Epiphyllums are still blooming, so continue to cut off faded blossoms and mist frequently in hot weather, but don't overwater. A good rule of thumb is to water when the soil is dry 1½ inches down.

• Now that cymbidium orchids are done blooming, it is time to divide and repot if they are overcrowded.

• Prune and feed your camellias and azaleas with an acid fertilizer formulated for these plants. A good rule of thumb is to apply at half strength, feeding every six to eight weeks until the end of September.

• Caterpillars can be destructive, but keep in mind a lot of them will turn into butterflies. Have a bottle of BT (bacillus thuringiensis) handy if you have an infestation, to keep the nuisance caterpillars under control.

• Who doesn’t need more ladybugs in their garden? Ladybugs are aphid munchers. They are a bit pricey, but get a little bucket of these beauties and invite the neighborhood kids over for the release.

Priceless. ■