Landscape and Gardening Tips for April
What our Pros are doing:
Hawks Landscape Designers and Installation Crews:
- Our crews are starting to plant trees, shrubs and perennials as well as begin hardscaping projects such as patios, walks and retaining walls.
- On more established landscapes, our crews are dividing mature perennials.
- Our landscape designers are filling up the rest of our spring schedule with exciting projects from around southeastern Wisconsin.
Hawks Landscape Maintenance staff:
- Our lawn care crews will begin the first application of our 5-Step Lawn Fertilization Program. This step, including a pre-emergent to control crab grass, establishes the foundation for a healthy, vigorous lawn throughout the year. This can be done any time the soil is thawed from the end of March until the first weekend in May.
- Crews will begin core aerating lawns to reduce compaction, increase oxygenation and promote healthy microorganisms which in turn create a greener, thicker lawn with less thatch.
- Our plant bed maintenance crews are beginning spring clean ups at residential and commercial properties: removing leaves and debris from beds and lawns and cutting back remaining perennials and grasses. They are also removing protective material from roses and other plants.
- Crews are applying a pre-emergent weed killer (similar to Preen) in landscape beds and sprinkling slug bait around hostas to prevent a severe infestation later in the season.
- Our arborists are fertilizing trees, shrubs, and perennial beds.
As soon as the frost is out, You should:
- Start seeding lettuce, radish, carrots, spinach and other cold-tolerant vegetable seeds in your garden.
- Plant pansies and other cold-tolerant annuals for instant color.
- Plant your dahlias and gladiolus bulbs.
Please note: The timing on many of these tips is approximate and can vary greatly depending on a variety of factors. If you have any questions, please contact a Hawks Landscape Designer or Maintenance representative at 414-258-5525.