RADIO TRANSCRIPT
March 27, 2023
Taylor Campbell

This is Taylor Campbell, horticulture extension agent with N.C. Cooperative Extension, Burke County Center. Today’s program is on April garden tasks. April is right around the corner, and with that comes spring gardening chores. Fertilize early bloomers such as forsythia the first week of April. Late blooming plants such as rhododendrons should be fertilized later in the month when their flowers fade. If you have house plants, now is the time to fertilize them and consider repotting. Plant annuals outside later in the month. Azaleas can also be transplanted in April. Now is also the time to establish warm season grasses such as bermuda grass and centipede grass. Prune berry-producing trees and shrubs such as holly during flowering. Prune flowering trees and shrubs such as redbud and flowering cherry after the bloom is over. It is also a good idea to start scouting for insect pests and start creating a pest control plan. As it gets warmer outside, consider adding mulch to your garden if you haven’t already.

As for which plants we can expect to see bloom in the coming weeks, be on the lookout for flowering dogwood, tulips, trillium, magnolia, and larkspur.

This has been Taylor Campbell, horticulture extension agent with N.C. Cooperative Extension, Burke County Center. For more information, call us at 764-9480.