Thank you for calling Dial-a-Garden. This message was recorded on Tuesday, April 15, 2008.

People have been calling to find out when peak blooming time is for the orchards around Palisade and Orchard Mesa. Normal bloom time, as identified on the Western Colorado Research center’s website (http://www.colostate.edu/programs/wcrc/) for apricots is around April 4, peaches April 11, cherries April 18 - 25, and apples April 26. As we know, there is no such thing as “normal” with fruit growing, but most of the blossoms are running a little late this year.

An illustrated guide to pruning stone fruit trees (peaches, cherries, plums, etc.) is available on our website at http://westernslopefruit.org or give us a call to receive a copy. You will also find a link there to a nice guide on pruning apples and pears, from Clemson University. It is too late for dormant oil in most of the Grand Valley now; higher elevations will have to check. If you see any green tissue, this tender new growth will be burned by the oil.

Butterfly bush, blue mist spirea, Russian sage, and the hyssops should be cut back to the crown now, to encourage a well shaped plant and abundant blooms. The spring blooming shrubs such as lilac and forsythia should be pruned shortly after bloom, to stimulate the new growth that will bear the blossoms the following spring.

Core aerate your cool-season lawns at this time, to relieve compaction, reduce thatch, and allow the movement of oxygen and water into the soil. Core aeration removes small plugs of thatch and soil, leaving them on the surface. They may be left there, or raked up and added to the compost. Mowing and raking will help break them down. Avoid aerating with spikes, as these actually increase the compaction problem by glazing the sides of the holes, making root penetration difficult. Trees in the lawn will also benefit from the aeration. For best results, water the lawn a couple of days before aerating so that it is moist but not soggy. Dry areas can be damaged by aerating, and if the lawn is very wet, the heavy equipment will cause compaction rather than relieving it.

Avoid a heavy feeding of the lawn in the spring. The vigorous, succulent growth this will generate is more susceptible to lawn fungi such as leaf spot. Several light feedings four to six weeks apart will encourage more moderate, even growth that will be better able to resist diseases. Cool season lawns in our area require three to four pounds of nitrogen per thousand square feet annually, as nitrogen does not remain in the soil and needs to be replenished. The other nutrient needs will vary, depending on the soil; a soil test will provide this information. Please contact us at 244-1836 for information on getting soil tested for nutrient content.

Birds feeding in the lawn probably indicate the presence of sod webworms. This insect overwinters in the larval stage, and resumes feeding in spring when the soil warms up. In most cases, the birds provide sufficient control and no additional treatment is needed. If you feel your situation warrants insecticides, most standard ones will work. Further information on sod webworms may be found on the web at http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05509.html or give us a call at 244-1836 to receive a copy of this publication by mail.

There is still space in three of our upcoming Native Plant Master courses: June 6, 13, and 20 on the north rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and July 11, 18, and 25 or July 12, 19, and 26 on Grand Mesa. These three session field classes cover identifying 40 to 50 plants, learning their botanical names, using a key for identification, and learning something about their ecology and human uses. Noxious weeds will also be covered. The cost is $100.00 for each three-session course, with a reduced fee of $50.00 for those who commit to educating at least 20 other people per course and reporting your contacts back to Colorado State University. The application and additional information is available on our website at http://westernslopegardening.org - sorry, the course in April/May on the Colorado National Monument is full for this year.

Thank you for calling Dial-a-Garden. This message will be updated next week; have a great week!

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Curt Swift CSU Extension Tri River Area Horticultural Agent