“In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours.”
– Mark Twain
• Apply organic matter, compost, and manure to soil.
• Seed cool-season vegetables outside, such as peas, lettuce, carrots, broccoli, Brussels sprout, Swiss chard, kale, onions, parsley and spinach.
• Cover tender plants if late frost is in the forecast.
• Plants started indoors should be hardened off outdoors in cold frames.
• Begin fertilizing houseplants again.
• Clean up your garden. Rake up any leaves, remove winter mulch, remove any dead plants, and mix in compost in your garden soil.
• Fertilize the lawn.
• Fertilize roses, raspberries, and woody plants.
• Mow your ground covers to remove any winter damage. Fertilize and water the ground covers to encourage growth.
• Finish pruning.
• Apply horticultural oil to trees and shrubs that had insect issues last year.
• Prune spring-blooming shrubs, such as forsythia, after they have finished flowering.
• Divide perennials that are overcrowded.
Earth Day is April 22
Earth Day is an annual event, celebrated on April 22, on which events worldwide are held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network and celebrated in more than 193 countries each year.
On Earth Day 2016, the landmark Paris Agreement is scheduled to be signed by the United States, China, and some 120 other countries. This signing compels into action the historic draft of the climate protection treaty adopted by consensus of the 195 nations present at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris.
Here at home we can make a difference by considering these few changes:
Start Composting-If you are a beginner-there is a free Composting 101 class this Saturday at Blumen Gardens in Sycamore featuring Peggy Doty from the University of Illinois Extension. It is a primer gardening class on composting that will show you how easy it really is.
Use less plastic bags-in fact try to use reusable bags whenever possible.
Buy Local Produce (it reduces our carbon footprint when we buy local) –Wheaton French Market opens Saturday April 16.
Recycle e-waste. Have you ever tried to recycle electronics? It’s not easy. Goodwill recycles electronics for FREE!
Plant Native plants: Using plants adapted to our own climate means less watering, pesticides and fertilizers. Wheaton Native Plant Sale is: Saturday April 30-go to the City of Wheaton Web for more info.
Go Paperless! Switching to paperless bills is one of the easiest ways to green your lifestyle.
Plant a Tree!
Wheaton, Illinois