Prune
Hold off on pruning crape myrtle until at least mid-April. Sudden cold blasts could kill this tender shrub if pruned too early. Wait to see what comes out this spring, which may be as late as Mother’s Day.
After a hard winter, Crape Myrtle may die back to the ground. But don’t give up…they can sprout from the roots as late as mid-May.
Fertilize Bulbs
Use a bulb food or superphosphate at the time of blooming to ensure that these perennial plants will bloom again next year.
The bulb makes its flower bud shortly after it has bloomed but before the leaves turn yellow and go dormant. By applying fertilizer during the bloom period allows the plant to utilize the nutrients for best flowering next year.
Borer Control
Trees that have been infested with borers should be sprayed every two weeks from mid-April until mid-June.
Another method of control is to apply Fertilome Tree and Shrub Systemic Insect Drench for year-round protection against boring insects. This product can be applied any month of the year except when the ground is frozen, with September being the recommended time.
Cedar Apple Rust Watch
When the orange galls are visible on the cedar trees, it means that the Cedar Apple Rust spores are spreading to your apple and crabapple trees right now!
Spray the leaves of the apple to prevent infection from taking place.
Otherwise, in 3 weeks, leaves will develop yellow spots, and then fall off.
Weed Control and Aeration
Broadleaf Weed Control should be applied when weeds are actively growing. We carry both granular and liquid herbicide products, with and without fertilizer.
Annual weeds like crabgrass don’t germininate until late April, so if a crabicide has not been applied to the lawn, there is still time before the 20th of April.
It is not too late to aerate the lawn in April. Aeration is the single best lawn maintenance task for mid-Missouri lawns. Getting air to the root system is more important than fertilization.
Spring fertilization is not necessary, especially if fall and winter fertilizers were applied. Heavy fertilizing causes fast and weak growth, which results in disease problems and thatch build-up.