April 18, 2001
Stillwater Gazette
Betsy Halden

Gardening tips for April - Flushing salts from the soil, growing lilacs, care for your Easter lily, and early lawn care

Gardeners are optimists. We know warm weather will come. We know the flood waters will recede, and the heavy rains will stop. Meanwhile here are some gardening tips for late April. While we dream about working in our summer gardens.

Many of us have gardens and lawns near driveways and roadways that had heavy applications of salt during the winter. Flushing the area with water is the best way to keep the soon-to-emerge plants healthy. Some stores are marketing a gypsum product which is supposed to work through the soil. But Deb Brown, University of Minnesota Extension Horticulturist, recommends water – lots of it—for washing and diluting the salt that accumulates on grass and in the soil. Flushing the area with water is also the best way to neutralize Fido’s or, in our case, Theodore Samoyed’s winter brown spots on the lawn.

If you’ve been considering planting a lilac hedge or wondering how you could get your lilacs to grow as fast as possible, here are some suggestions. Lilacs grow best on sites that are high in organic matter with adequate moisture and good drainage. They are remarkably drought tolerant and will survive extended dry periods. Plant lilacs in an area that receives at least 6 hours of sun per day. Plant them away from other trees and shrubs that would compete for soil moisture and nutrients. A soil test will tell you what you should use to fertilize the lilacs. A soil test will also indicate if your soil needs nutrients such as phosphorus or potassium. Fertilize according to the recommendations on the soil test. Mulching out to the drip line with 4 to 6 inches of wood chips will retain soil moisture, moderate soil temperatures and reduce competition from weeds.

If you have a bright Easter lily in your home, you may be wondering how to take care of it. Easter lilies mark both the holiday and the transition into spring. While you are enjoying the blooms, remove the pollen- bearing stamens from your plant. The stamens will stain skin and clothing if you brush against them. Nip off entire flowers as they fade. Once your Easter lily has finished blooming, remove the faded flowers and continue to grow it in a sunny window. When its leaves turn brown, cut off the stem at the soil surface. In late May or early June, plant the bulb outdoors. Deb Brown recommends a warm, sunny spot with well-drained soil. Plant lily bulbs four to six inches deep, from the soil surface to the top of the bulb. In sandy soil, the bulbs should be two to three inches deeper. Fertilize at planting time and again in mid-summer. When the soil begins to freeze in fall, cover the bulbs with a thick mulch of straw, leaves or evergreen boughs. When you remove the mulch covering next spring, the lilies should reward your efforts with new growth and beautiful flowers.

Wondering about lawn care? Now is the time to rake the lawn to remove leaves, dead grass and weeds, twigs, and other debris that may have accumulated over the winter. Compost the organic matter, if possible, rather than filling plastic yard bags to be hauled to a dumping site. You can also seed thin areas, but you need to first scruff the soil surface and add mild organic lawn food or starter fertilizer. Then you can seed.

The Yard & Garden Line is a great resource for gardeners. If you have a question about garden or landscape plants, insects, wildlife, plant disease, soil testing call the yard& Garden Line at 612.624.4771 in the metro area or 888. 624. 4771 in greater Minnesota.

Betsy Halden is a Master Gardener with the University of Minnesota Extension Service. University of Minnesota Extension Service materials were consulted in the preparation of this column. You can reach Betsy Halden at eahalden@comcast.net