So, it's been warm, daytime temperatures in the mid-teens Celsius, and your green thumb is getting anxious. You're dying to get out there and dig in the soil, fertilize, remove mulch....DON'T....not yet anyway.
The soil temperature is not nearly so warm as the air temperature and you are likely to do more damage than anything, particularly if mother nature sends a little frost your way, and you know she will. (unless you live in the tropics or the southern states, then ignore this post. Unless you like feeling sorry for those of us who cannot fathom being able to garden year-round :P)
- Do not re-seed your lawn. The soil temperature must be at least 15 degrees Celsius for lawn seed to germinate. Anyone have a soil thermometer handy? Frank Ferragine once commented that he'd read in an old gardening magazine of the bare bum test...I think that goes without explanation.
- Don't plant tender annuals.
- Don't prune anything that flowers in the spring.
- Don't fertilize until plants are actively growing.
- Don't remove rose collars.
Look for last frost dates in your area. In Toronto that can be as early as the beginning of May, but in Alberta, especially Calgary and north, you are looking at the end of May. Oh, and Vancouver, we won't even mention...cough .... their last frost date is ? Do they even have one? (jealous!) Once your area has seen it's last perceived frost date, then you may get out there to start on those spring tasks. In the meantime, how about a walk?
I know some farmers plant by the phases of the moon. Catch my post on this at: Planting By Moon Phases. It's rather an interesting theory but I have yet to test its validity. Has anyone out there tried it?
I know some farmers plant by the phases of the moon. Catch my post on this at: Planting By Moon Phases. It's rather an interesting theory but I have yet to test its validity. Has anyone out there tried it?
