A popular phrase among horticultural professionals is “right plant, right place.” Ron tells you how to apply this in your own garden.

If April showers bring May flowers, what do April snow squalls bring? Perhaps some frustration, but snow in April, even this late, is not unusual. Looking back in my gardening notebook, I see that last year on the morning of April 22 we awakened to 2-3 inches. Despite the flurries this past Sunday and Tuesday, there are sunny days and milder temperatures ahead, and many tasks on my checklist:

* While April may provide some frosty weather, and even a covering of snow, it is still a key month for planting. B esides hardy annuals and the cool season vegetable crops, herbaceous perennials, dormant trees and shrubs can be planted this month. The latter will need special attention because they are long-term additions to gardens and landscapes.

* Add red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia “Brilliantissima’) to your list of potential shrub plantings this spring. Native to eastern United States, this multi-stemmed shrub slowly grows to a height of 5 to 10 feet and a width of 3 to 5 feet. The most outstanding features are its attractive fall foliage color and the brilliant red berries that persist into early winter. Another plus for this shrub is its adaptability to just about any kind of soil.

* When conditions allow, rake garden soil into long narrow mounds to plant early season vegetables if the soil drains poorly. Try to mix in copious amounts of organic matter when mounding these raised planting beds. Not only is drainage improved, but the mounded soil warms quickly. The warmth speeds seed germination of peas, lettuce and other hardy crops.

* Use a “wide row” technique when planting leaf lettuce, chard, spinach, and other leafy greens. Start by smoothing a planting area using a garden rake. Width of the planting area is the same as width of the rake, which is typically 14 to 16 inches. Seeds are then scattered over the wide row. With smaller seeds such as lettuce, lightly rake the row to just barely cover the seed with soil and then firm the soil with the flat end of the rake. With larger seeds such as chard, rake soil from outside the wide row to cover the seeds.

* Prune your roses, now that the extent of winter dieback on rose canes should be evident.  One of the joys of growing modern shrub roses is that they don’t need much pruning.  If you’re in the market for new roses this spring, consider the various shrub roses which are grown on their own roots rather than grafted.

* If they need to be divided or moved, dig up snowdrops while their leaves are still green. They don’t transplant well if dug after the leaves have dried up.  When dividing, gently pull apart the bulbs. Replant so that each bulb is at the same depth as it was when first placed in the ground, spacing the bulbs an inch apart.

* Cut off your Easter lily flowers’ yellow anthers. This will extend the period of bloom for each blossom.

A popular phrase among horticultural professionals is “right plant, right place.” In practical terms that means matching the growing requirements of the plant to the environmental characteristics of the site where the tree, shrub, or perennial is to be planted.  So, before heading off to the garden center to spend hard-earned, or even soft-earned, money on a new plant, do a site analysis.  Make a list that includes: soil pH (acid or alkaline), drainage (good, bad, or drought prone), amount of sunlight (full sun, part shade, full shade), and exposure, including exposure to wind.   Then check this list against the growing needs of the plants you wish to buy.  This simple exercise can save a lot of grief and a lot of money.

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