The dedicated gardener knows that a garden is never finished. That is why the Garden Shop Nursery wants to help you keep up with all those never-ending chores. Each month we will provide you with a checklist that will help you successfully maintain a beautiful and productive garden from start to finish.

• ROSE CARE - April 15^th is the target date for pruning roses in Reno. This is the time to clean out winter debris from around your rose bushes and prune. It is also a good time to apply a fertilizer to encourage new growth. Make sure the plant is fully hydrated before and the day after fertilizing. This will protect the plant from root damage and help move nutrients into the root zone. The Garden Shop Nursery carries a variety of rose fertilizers, such as: Gardner & Bloome NEW organic fertilizer, Dr. Earth Rose and Flower Fertilizer, Master Nursery Rose and Flower, and Bayer All-in-One Rose and Flower Care.
   
• LAWN CARE – Lawns can be aerated after the first flush of growth or in mid-late April. You can aerate and apply your first application of fertilizer when your lawn begins to turn green. If you are not sure what kind of fertilizer to apply, a soil test will tell you what nutrients your lawn needs. Warden’s Lawn Fertilizer is a blend that has four measurable nutrients of 10-8-4-15 (Nitrogen, Phosphate, Potash and Sulfur), making this a great blend for the soils in our area. If you want to use an organic fertilizer, we recommend Dr. Earth Super Natural Lawn Fertilizer. This product is made from a base of fish meal, which not only promotes a natural, healthy lawn but also discourages rabbits from feasting on your lawn.
   
• LAST CHANCE TO PRUNE – Now is the time to finish up pruning those fruit trees and shrubs before they bloom. You should never take more than 20% off the tree or shrub at one time, and it’s always a good idea to disinfect your tools as you move from one tree to another. Your first pruning targets should be any dead and diseased branches, and any branches that cross and/or rub. Also, before they leaf out is a good time to apply dormant oil. * Use an anti bacterial spray for easy way to disinfect your tools.
   
• SPRING COLOR – If you were too late to get those daffodils into the ground for spring color, don’t despair. You can still have beautiful color in your yard this spring. Pansies and snapdragons will fill in nicely for those forgotten daffodil bulbs. Pansies come in several brilliant colors that will brighten any planter or front yard, and like snapdragons they are cold hardy and have a long bloom time. The Garden Shop Nursery is well stocked with a large selection of both, and our expert staff will be happy to assist you in adding that much needed splash of spring color.

Onions, shallots, garlic, leeks and more-

Botanically, all of the above are members of the genus Allium. Basic growing instructions generally are the same for all of them, with a few exceptions.

Onions – They are easy to grow and take up little space. They require full sun and good soil drainage, with a soil pH between 6.2 and 6.8. Space your onions four inches apart for mature onions and two inches apart if you want to pull some to use as green onions. Water thoroughly after planting and keep soil moist. If leaves develop a yellow tinge, cut back on watering. Mulch with a light layer of straw to preserve moisture. As they begin to cure you will want to push the straw away from the bulb. Fertilize every two to three weeks with ammonium sulfate in alkaline soils, making sure you water the onions after every application. Do not fertilize after the onions start to bulb.

Harvest your crop when the tops of the onions turn brown or yellow and fall over. Pull them early in the morning and dry in the sun for two days, covering lightly to prevent sunscald. They need two or three days of dry weather to become thoroughly dried. Once they are dry, clip the roots and cut back the tops to one inch. At last, with little work and great pleasure, you can enjoy home-grown onions and what a treat it will be!

Shallots – Shallots, closely related to onions, are an excellent crop for the home garden. In colder climates they can be planted in late spring and summer for either their tasty green shoots in the spring or bulbs in the fall. Plant the cloves pointed end up four to eight inches apart and cover with a ½ inch of soil. Bulbs will be ready for harvest in about 100 days. To get a jump on the weather you can always purchase shallot plants already started from the Garden Shop Nursery. Shallots need to dry about a month in a cool, dry place before using. If stored properly they can be kept for up to eight months.

Garlic – Although garlic can be planted in the spring, it will do better if it has a long period of dormancy. There are now hundreds of garlic varieties that come in different sizes and colors. Garlic grows best in soil that contains lots of organic matter. Individual cloves should be planted scar side down about two inches deep and four to six inches apart in rows. In the spring, water and fertilize along with all your other vegetables. Harvest in mid to late summer, when the leaves have turned yellow and become dry. Carefully dig out the garlic bulbs, tie in bunches and hang them in a drafty area for five to six weeks to cure. Garlic is traditionally used to control pests, which is why it is often included as a companion plant for roses and other perennials.

Leeks – In our area, the best way to start leeks is to purchase leek starts and plant them one to two inches apart, or start your own leek seeds in flats to plant after the last spring frost date. At around ten weeks of age begin hardening off your plants while at the same time preparing your bed with compost or aged manure. Plant the leeks four to six inches apart, setting each plant in a narrow planting hole about six inches deep. Fill the hole loosely with soil. Cover all but two inches of leaves with soil. As they grow taller, mulch around the plants. Harvest by gently loosening the soil with a hand fork to pull up the leeks.

And More – What about chives? Chives have been cultivated for millennia and are native to Asia, Europe, and North America. They are an attractive perennial that can be propagated after spring bloom by simply dividing a clump. You can plant chives from mid-spring through summer. The smaller clumps can be planted twelve to eighteen inches apart, or you can sow seeds outside as soon as the soil is workable. One word of caution; garlic chives are self-seeding and can be aggressive.

The Garden Shop Nursery encourages their customers to experiment with edible landscapes. If you don’t have room in your vegetable garden or don’t have one, try incorporating these edible annuals amongst your ornamental plants. The beautiful fountain-shaped leaf of the leek would be a great complement next to almost any ornamental, whereas, garlic is a good choice to plant around roses. Not only does it look nice but it could help deter aphids. Chives, with their long bloom time and delicate foliage, make an attractive border along the front walk or edge of a perennial flower bed.

The Garden Shop Nursery has several different varieties of onions for you to choose from:

Red Candy Apple- 4” diameter onions, magenta-purple wrapper, crisp, super-sweet flesh.

April  Guests for the Impatient Gardener Radio Show
Saturday's at 9:00 on 1270 the Buzz with Marnie Brennan along with her nursery/gardening guests

April 3rd - Perennial Day 2010 on the impatient gardener; Marnie and Jan Loverin, form the Garden Shop Nursery will interview Nicholas from Monrovia Growers for a spirited talk on what’s new in the market and how to care for your plants that are waking up and newly planted varieties.

April 10th - Rose care for spring with Dianne Storz-Lintz, this is one of the best topics and I have one of the best experts. Dianne will join us at the Garden Shop Nursery for a seminar after the show.

April 17th - Organics and all that goes with it….Milo Shammas owner of the Dr. Earth Company will join Karen Reuter and I in the studio for a great no nonsense talk on organics for all gardeners.

April 24th - Veggies! I am pleased to welcome back Randy Robison, Master Gardener and expert vegetable grower. Randy has been certified as a square foot gardener, and will be hosting a seminar at our nursery after the show.