I’m sure you are ready for spring, since much of the snow has finally melted. This past winter reminded me of the snowy winter of 1951.
How many of you gardeners still plant potatoes on Good Friday?
I want to plant some trees in my yard this spring. When can I start doing this and what needs to be done before planting any trees?
First of all, call the Gopher State number — (800) 252-1166 — and say that you are planning to plant trees at your home. They in turn will call the utility companies and mark the location of the gas lines, telephone lines, electricity lines, etc., on your lawn. Do not plant any trees near these lines, as eventually the root systems may interfere with the utility lines.
With all of the snow we had this past winter, will I still need to water trees I planted one to three years ago?
By mid-May and June you should be watering these trees occasionally as, remember, the last several years we have had limited rain in many areas throughout the state. If you have flowers under these trees you will definitely need to be watering as the tree roots take up a lot of water during the spring and summer.
The snow has all melted, and I believe my lawn has snow mold disease. What should I do with this at this time?
Carefully, lightly rake these areas with a light-weight rake as not to disturb the ground much because that could kill the grass. Usually, in time, this problem will improve as the warmer temperatures arrive along with the spring rains.
Can I apply cat and dog droppings at the base of my young trees?
No. The droppings of these animals are salty, so there is a good chance application would kill the trees. If you want to use some manure, use the droppings of cows, pigs or horses for much better results.
My asparagus has been quite grassy and weedy in recent years. When can I spread salt on the asparagus patch, as you have talked about in recent years?
Once the snow has melted from the patch, that is the time to make the first application of water softener salt or even pickling salt. Spread this on as you spread fertilizer in the garden this spring. Put a second application on the asparagus bed once you’ve had at least one rain on it, probably about the second week in April, and before the asparagus spears are emerging. A weedy area may take up to two to three years to come weed- and grass-free.
When can I uncover my strawberry bed this spring?
Hold up for a while yet, to keep the strawberries from starting to grow early. Uncovering too early, and if we have a late frost, any blooming flowers on the strawberries would be killed and your strawberry crop would be lost for the season. Once the leaves underneath the straw begin to turn yellow, that is the time to uncover the plants.
Every year I lose some of my tulips to the rabbits. What can I do to save them?
Put chicken netting fence around the plants, and leave the fence up until the flowers are done blooming. It is time also to set live traps with corn or rabbit pellets for bait. You’ll know what to do once you’ve caught them. Remember a rabbit will have several families during the season, so the more female rabbits you have on your yard, the more young rabbits you will have during the season.
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I hope you will be attending some of the Horticulture Days at various sites in Minnesota this spring. Watch your local newspapers for locations in your area.
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Hank Wessels is a Master Gardener in Watonwan County. He welcomes questions and comments from readers. He may be reached at 601 1st St. SW, Madelia, MN 56062, hwdw@madtelco.net or (507) 642-8479.
