April is a good time to begin
planting perennial plants. They may be bought bare-rooted or in containers:
- Bare-root plants are usually packed in a moist, loose material which should be kept moist, not soggy, until planting. Spread out roots, and plant so that the growth buds are about one inch below the ground.
- Plants in containers must be removed carefully: invert the pot and tap it with a spade or shovel if the plant does not come out easily. If the roots are wrapped around the plant, gently pull them apart. If they are tightly wound, cut them with a sharp, clean knife. Spread the roots and then set the plant at the same level as it was in the pot. Once the bare-root or container-grown plant is in the soil, firm the soil around the plant and water it well.
Dividing perennial plants. After several years, many perennials need to be divided for better blooming. This means removing the plant from the ground, cutting the roots into viable clumps, discarding any diseased or woody roots (usually at the center of the original root clump), and replanting in the afternoon. Water well after replanting.
| Rule of Thumb: Divide spring-blooming perennials in the fall; Fall-and-summer blooming perennials in the spring |
Late afternoon or evening is the best time for planting. New transplants will get off to a good start if they have the cool of the night to become used to their new homes. Planting on a cloudy day is the next best choice. Be sure to water them well. If the next several days are sunny, they’d appreciate some shading–shingles, sides of cut-up milk cartons, or any temporary material-- will do just fine.
Vegetable tips for early spring: For gourmet salads, thickly sow mixed varieties of lettuce and cut with scissors one-half inch above the ground when the plants are three inches tall. They'll re-sprout for another harvest or two. Swiss chard planted now will produce greens for salads and cooking from July to November. Shorter, stouter, or "half-long" carrots with strong tops are easiest to grow and harvest in our heavy soils. Choose a regular cabbage variety; early varieties produce smaller heads that tend to burst.
Take heed: Soak cut daffodils and tulips in lukewarm water for one-half hour before arranging them with other cut flowers. Freshly cut, they emit a substance that is toxic to other flowers.
Foil burglars: Plant gooseberry, barberry, or other thorny bushes in front of windows.
