Plant spring flowering shrubs NOW!  Forsythia, quince, weigelia, flowering almond, althea and lilac are just a few of the shrubs that can be planted successfully this time of year. Plants are available in both bare root and containerized form. We get a lot of questions about pruning this time of year. Remember that you shouldn't prune your early spring-flowering shrubs until after they bloom. But any flowering shrubs that  bloom later probably bloom on new growth. So go ahead and prune them now. Make sure your tools are clean and sharp.

It is also a great time to plant new trees in your yard. We have a wide variety of trees adapted for Oklahoma's climate. Buy them small, in containers, or in larger balled-and-burlapped form.  Take a look at Oklahoma State Extension's Saucer Planting Sheet.* 

Planting a tree is one of the best investments you can make in your property. A properly placed tree will not only make your yard and your neighborhood a more pleasant place, but can also shade your house and keep those electric bills down in the summer while increasing your property value.

Everybody loves roses! They are available bare root, in packages, redi-to-plant boxes, fiber pots, and  containerized. We have Jackson & Perkins #1 grade roses as well as other brands. You will find many varieties of roses available including:  Hybrid Teas, Grandifloras, Floribundas, Climbers, Old Garden, Antique and English Garden roses. Many are All-American Rose Selections.

Existing rose bushes should be pruned in late winter or early spring. So if you haven't done that yet, you still can do it early this month. Prune out old canes, and any that seem damaged first. Then do general shaping as needed. A good organic top dressing around your rose bushes will not only keep the weeds down, but also help keep moisture more even and provide nutrients. We particularly like the compost products like Back to Nature® for this purpose.

Apply pre-emergent crabgrass control to your lawn. Several good products will control those unwanted weeds in your grass. Remember, the best way to a healthy lawn is to prevent weeds from ever getting established in the yard. A pre-emergent applied according to the directions will act as a barrier, and kill weed seed as it germinates.

Balan has long been the standard of the industry, and continues to perform well. However, Betasan, will perform as well, but last three times as long. And another product, new last year, Barricade, lasts even longer. In fact, one application can give season-long crabgrass control. Barricade does require more "watering-in" than comparable products to activate it properly. 

Be prepared to apply 1/2 to 3/4 inches of water as soon as possible after application so the sunlight will not degrade the product and lessen its effectiveness. All three of these products prevent "nuisance" grasses (crabgrass, goose grass, etc.) from germinating.
 

Cool season grasses can be fertilized at the same time as you apply your pre-emergent. However it is really better to wait and fertilize Bermuda grass late in April as it is greening up. Fescue lawns can be started or over-seeded early this month.

For More Information See Our Publication: Cool Season Grasses

The warm winter and early spring have given us all the urge to get out and dig in the dirt. Spring rains can often come at inconvenient times, though. Be sure you wait to do your roto-tilling until the ground is sufficiently dry. When the soil is wet, the tilling action breaks up the natural soil structure -- forming clods that may be very difficult to break up. Wet tilling can also cause a hard, compacted layer that is formed at the bottom of the tilled zone that can be almost impossible for roots to penetrate.

If you are building new flower beds or vegetable gardening areas, give some thought to the addition of organic matter as you prepare the beds. There is no better way to improve our Oklahoma clay soils. Organic materials will not only improve soil texture but also contain many of the essential trace elements that make our plants more robust.  Whether you want to be a casual composter or a by-the-book power composter, have a talk with a garden center specialist to get the proper information on how to get started.

If you haven't already started your vegetable garden, now is the time. Seed potatoes, onion sets and slips, asparagus, shallots, garlic, horseradish and strawberries can be planted. Cole crops should be set out, too. These are cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and broccoli. Be sure to till your soil and work in some 10-20-10 if the soil needs it. Tomatoes and other warm season crops can be set out if you use a cold frame, milk jug or a "wall of' water". It is usually better to wait and mulch your vegetables until after the soil warms up a bit more. By the end of the month, though, our last frost will have passed, and the soil will be warm enough for warm season vegetables to be planted and mulch to be applied.
 

Feed the Birds! You can probably find well over 200 styles of bird feeders and houses to chose from. Bird seed choices are black oil and striped sunflower seed, safflower seed, red and white millet, cracked corn, thistle, finch food, redbird food, wild bird mix, hummingbird food and more! Help our fine feathered friends with bird baths, bird bath heaters and squirrel baffles.

It won't be too much longer before the hummingbirds will be migrating our way. They usually begin appearing in the first weeks of April. Now is the time to get your feeders ready so that you can fill and hang them soon. Make sure the bee guards aren't damaged and sterilize them before filling them for the first time. Discard any leftover food from last year as molds can grow in it that can kill the hummingbirds.

 If you are a true bird lover, take a look at Landscaping and Gardening for Birds from OSU Extension. It will help you pick plants for your yard and garden that birds particularly like, and gives good info on feeding birds as well.

Plan your flowerbeds now. Clean out old, dried materials remaining from last year and mix in organic materials to prepare your bed for new plantings. During April, our greenhouses fill to bursting with annual flowers for you to plant. All of the tried-and-true plants are here, as well as many new varieties. If you are tired of the  same old thing, this is the month to come browse through our greenhouse for something new and different. We will be glad to help you pick some new varieties to spice up your beds.