It seems that we are on track for an earlier than average spring, and that means that this is the time to apply crab grass preventer.
Crab grass is an annual weed. The seeds don’t germinate until the ground temperature is warm, and that is happening now. This is a pre-emergence herbicide, so once the seed has germinated, the product will not be effective.
This is also the time to apply systemic rose care to your landscape roses. This product is the absolute best fertilizer and insect deterrent you can use.
Make the application now and then pencil in on your calendar another two applications, one in six weeks and another six weeks after that. That will result in your plants performing to the max for the season.
This product is not a fungicide, so if your rose variety is susceptible to black spot or mildew, you will still have to spray to prevent those diseases.
All cool-season garden vegetable crops should be planted soon if you haven’t already done so. Getting those plants to be established before the ground gets too warm will mean the difference between great or not so great production.
Crops that like warmer soil are tomatoes, peppers, melons, sweet corn, beans, cucumbers, sweet potatoes and okra. For these warm season varieties, there is no advantage to planting too early. In fact, if the ground temperature is too cold, often the seed will rot instead of germinate.
In past years, the flowering crab trees have often been in bloom for Mother’s Day, and it seems that this year we will see them putting on their display a week earlier … such an exciting time to see all the wonderful color that makes our natural world a gift to enjoy!