LANDSCAPE SPECIALISTS (copyr 2005-2014)

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APRIL THINGS TO DO (Seattle / Pacific Northwest):
(revised may 15, 2022)

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Shrubs & Tree's:

     routine pruning / thinning.
     cut and remove old guy-wires
     roses can  be pruned early in month
     cut old leaves off sword ferns, before new leafs unfurl
     prune early flowering heath, heather, and shrubs
           (as blooms die off)

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Lawns:

Mowing:  Most lawns will need 2 or 3 mowing's this month

Fertilizer:  Not recommended 

Moss control: If your lawn is unacceptably off color
              or moss infested, apply iron at 6# 
              per 1000 sq. ft.  use a product with 
              little or no additional nitrogen.

Weed Control:   weed & feed is Not recommended.

                try household vinegar (it wont work on  
                buttercup, dock, and various other weeds)
 
                vinegar kills grass so target the weed
                Use a spray bottle or pump sprayer.

                (do not use vinegar over root zones of 
                shrubs or tree's - it can cause damage )

                apply 20# lime per year per 1000 sq. ft.
                to reduce soil acidity
                
Cranefly control:  Not recommended unless high numbers
                   are confirmed present in soil.

                   neem oil or canola oil are low 
                   toxicity products that may work.

                   don't use either spray when bee's 
                   are present in area.

Lawn renovation:  Great month for seeding/overseeding
                   

For lawn renovation tips see our "Lawn Care Tips" pamphlet.

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Beds:

  Routine cleanup.
  get control of rampant growing groundcovers
  cut stalks to the ground of spent flowering bulbs

Prepare garden beds.   Leaves can  be left in beds
    to form an effective mulch and good source
    of organic matter.  This is a good time to add
    compost to the beds. It can be applied over leaf
    debris or turned into the soil.

      Mulch as needed - recommended mulches:

      compost (garden beds)  
      Arborist chips  (open bed area's and pathways)

  Fertilize roses, shrubs, groundcovers as needed

  plant strawberries, potatoes, herbs, leeks
  plant gladiola, lillies, begonias, canna's

  plant groundcover or
  try wildflower seed mixes in open bed area's -
  (weeds are going to grow there anyway, right?)

  Self-sowing flowers; nasturtium, sunflower, cosmos, poppy
    alyssum, pansy


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Moss on Pavement:  Inspect walkways, steps and driveway
  for hazardous buildup of moss.

  1) apply household vinegar (warning - vinegar kills grass too) 
  - the dead moss will soon loosen up enough to 
  scrape it off)

 2)  let it weather away, or pressure wash if you need
      quicker results
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Roof and Gutter cleaning:  A good time for routine maintenance.
  We still have 2 months of rain to come, and additional debris
  and moss buildup may have accumulated since last cleaning if
  done prior to February.

  pressure washing or "proprietary" treatments are not recommended

  do not try to remove moss from cedar shakes

  routine light sweeping, raking, or brushing, followed by
  treatment with household vinegar on remaining moss, should keep
  moss under control without damaging roofing.

  (see our research link page - structural moss control).