Time for an application.
Hopefully Oklahoma gardeners have seen the last frost. Let Oklahoma Red Dirt Gardening begin!
As you work on your spring clean up, remember not to remove the foliage on your tulips, daffodils, and other spring bulbs just yet. The bulbs are still gathering nutrients for next years flowers. Once the leaves begin to die back then remove them.
Plant
Plant bedding plants, summer bulbs, annual flowering seeds can begin about mid April.
Plant warm season crops such as okra, tomatoes ( What is Wrong With My Tomatoes ), squash and cucumbers.
If you are doing succession planting of lettuce, beets and the like, now is the time to plant.
Plant herbs like basil, lemongrass, mint, oregano, sage and thyme, etc.
It is still not too late to plant Oklahoma trees and shrubs in the ground.
Begin planting Oklahoma Bermuda lawns at the end of the month, from sprigs, plugs or sod.
Fertilize
If you have had your onions in the ground for several weeks, fertilize them with 21-0-0.
I drench the roots of all new plantings with Garret Juice. My Favorite Organic Products . I also use Garret Juice as a foliar spray. Since it is organic, it will not burn your plants.
If you use organic lawn fertilizer, that can be applied at 20LBS/1000 sq. ft.
If you use chemical fertilizers and have an Oklahoma warm-season lawn, you will need to fertilize 5 times per year. The first application will be the last week of April to the first week of May. When to Fertilize Your Oklahoma Warm-Season Lawn. The application rate for high nitrogen fertilizer is one pound per 1000sf. This will produce a high quality lawn. Remember to water in this type of fertilizer.
Prune
If you still have freeze damage on branches or other plants, remove it to promote new growth and to improve the over all appearance and health of the plant.
Mow Bermuda and Zoysia to a height of 1 to 1.5 inches and buffalo grass to 3 inches. It is not necessary to scalp your lawn. It only promotes the growth of weeds.
Water
Water as needed, however pay more attention to new plantings. Also, Oklahoma winds will dry things out quickly.
Water container plants as needed.
Do forget to feed and water the birds!
“The Original” Red Dirt Gardener