Page 18 - APR2023

Page 18
Community
By BRittany amalfi
April is finally here! And hope- fully, we’re heading straight into sunnier days, warmer weather, and springtime activities. It has been quite a strange winter, but nothing beats those first few warm days of the year. With warmer weather comes the re- vitalization of the nature around us, and many people like to take to their own gardens to add to that springtime glow. As April is now here, many gardeners have to prep their plants in order to have blooming masterpieces for the warm months ahead.
Whereas April brings hope to new gardens, there can un- doubtedly be some frustration as the New England weather can be unpredictable. So, be sure to bundle up while you get out there to get your gardening done!
• Clean your garden. The fall and winter months can bring some messy nature to the gar- dens. Branches, leaves, rocks. There definitely could be any-
NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM
April 2023
Springtime Gardening Tips
thing once that snow finally melts.
• Weed your garden. It’s time to get rid of all that junk to make room for the beautiful plants that will soon grow.
• Digging. Once all the weeds and mess are gone, and if the soil isn’t too wet, you can begin to dig to prep the garden.
• Lawn Edging. Edging helps clearly divide flower beds, lawns, and the garden. It also helps separate the rocks, soil, and mulch.
• Prepping Soil. If well-rot- ted manure or compost is avail- able, be sure to nourish your soil with that. If you don’t have access to either, you can apply a slow-release fertilizer. Just be sure not to use any transitional syn- thetic lawn fertilizers.
• Sow Seeds. If you still need to do this, be sure to start this. Some good ones to do are petu- nias, zinnias, marigolds, and any other seasonal flowers you might want.
• Set up a compost area.
Compost areas and manures are essential as you will be able to use them to organically nourish your plants and soil without the need for synthetic fertilizers.
• Plant vegetables. You can plant both warmer-season and cooler-season vegetables during April. Some examples of warm-season vegetables are cucumbers, tomatoes, and pep-
pers. Examples of cooler-season vegetables are carrots, peas, and lettuce. Also, remember to warm up your garden with UV -stabi- lized plastic a week or two before planting. Clear plastic works bet- ter than black!
• Weed preventer. Apply a weed preventer like corn gluten meal.
• Water. I think it goes with- out saying, but if your soil is dry, make sure to water it!
• Make a garden journal.
If you’re a hardcore gardener, a garden journal to keep track of what you’re planting along with your to-dos and progress would be an excellent idea!
All in all, April is here, and we know that New Hampshire is full of natural beauty in the warmer months. But in order to preserve the nature we see every day, we have to begin early by complet- ing a few tasks that will undoubt- edly be rewarded. After a gloomy winter, we could all use Mother Nature to brighten up our days.
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