My Perennial Garden Tasks

Perennial Garden Tasks

April is the month for planting summer flowering bulbs like dahlias, gladiolas and lilies in your perennial garden. Mix bulb fertilizer, processed manure and peat moss into the perennial garden soil. Tuberous Begonias and Cannas should not be set outdoors until all danger of frost has passed, in zones 5 or lower. So wait accordingly in your temperature zone. Plant annual seeds such as asters, cosmos, marigolds and zinnias directly in the perennial garden.

When all frost danger has passed you can move your stored fuchsias and geraniums outdoors in your perennial garden or in pots. Trim them back, feed and re-pot if necessary. Water them well.
Plant tender bulbs and tubers (gladiola, lilies and dahlias) now. You may continue planting additional bulbs every two weeks until mid June to ensure a continuous source of bloom.
When they have finished blooming, you should deadhead your spring flowering bulbs. Do not cut off the green foliage! These green leaves continue to grow for a few weeks, and absorb nutrients from the perennial garden to provide the bulb with food for flowering next year.
Continue to divide perennials like Daylilies, Delphiniums, iris, chrysanthemums, Daisies, and Phlox. The additional plants you create can be traded or given to friends, or moved to a new area of the perennial garden.
Hybrid Tea Roses should be fertilized prior to buds beginning to bloom. Using a systemic fertilizer will help prevent insect infestation later in the summer, as it feeds your rose.
Plant new rosebushes in your perennial garden before growth starts and buds swell. This is standard practice on roses purchased with plastic bags around roots. If purchasing roses in pots its ok buy plants that are fully leafed out.
If you have a pond you should set out aquatic plants any time after the middle of the month.