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Get your vegtables here!
Do you have a growing family with no extra time for gardening? Subscribe to a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. Hugo Feed Mill will be a pickup location for Costa Farm andGreenhouse(costafarm.com)
again this year. They have share options for all family sizes. For more information on signup deadlines and pricing options see the grower’s website.
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Yard and Garden Tips for Spring
Remember that early April soil can be cold and wet, so resist the temptation to get out on the lawn or garden until the ground is dry and firm. Too much traffic too early can increase soil compaction, which affects a plant’s ability to uptake moisture and nutrients from the soil.
Start this month off by picking up any sticks, litter, and pet waste that has accumulated over the winter on the lawn and sweep any sand, rocks, and other debris off of any hard surfaces to prevent it from reaching the storm sewer.
You may not need to apply fertilizer in the spring. If the lawn is well-established, clippings were left on the turf, and a fall application was done, then spring fertilization may not be necessary. Consider a soil test for help in knowing the correct type and amount of product to use and when to apply it. See coupon below for savings. The following link explains how and where to collect your sample: http://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/how-sample-lawn-garden/
If your yard had problems with crabgrass or other annual weeds, apply a pre-emergent herbicide when the soil temperature reaches 50 degrees. Be sure to watch your email for a notice from Steve when it is the right time to apply. Save now on your purchase with the coupon below.
Do not rush to remove mulch from plant beds. With fluctuating spring temperatures, that mulch could still provide some frost protection and early spring gardens are too wet for any foot traffic anyway. Use the crumble test to see if the garden is ready for any work. This is done by taking a handful of dirt, shaping it into a ball, and poking the ball to see if it crumbles into smaller pieces. If it doesn’t break apart, then wait to begin work to minimize soil compaction.
Trim back any perennials that were left for winter interest or to provide food for birds before the new growth begins. Popular summer blooming shrubs, like Annabelle hydrangea and Anthony Waterer spirea, can be pruned back level with the ground because these plants bloom on new wood. The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum recommends this be done the first week in April.
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