By Jennifer Fairfield
(Publisher’s note: Part 1 of this column ran yesterday.)
Pansies and primrose can also go out now, but keep row covers handy – it is Michigan, after all.
We can expect a few big dips in temperatures still, and new growth is more tender than old, so your plants are more vulnerable at this time. Row covers can help protect your plants from frost and freeze, by keeping the warmth of the soil around the plant.
Bachelor’s buttons, calendula, phlox, and sweet pea seeds can be planted outdoors this month.
Toward the end of the month, divide summer-blooming perennials that you didn’t get to in the fall (you can divide spring-bloomers, but they may not bloom this spring).
If you have more plants than you have room for, give some away to friends and neighbors, or consider donating them to the Chelsea Area Garden Club for their annual spring plant sale. Proceeds from the sale go toward things like civic beautification around Chelsea and grants to Chelsea area students. The 20th annual plant sale will be held on May 12.
Plant dormant trees and shrubs once the soil can be worked. Proper planting of trees and shrubs is important in ensuring that they survive and thrive. The Arbor Day foundation has details for planting various types of trees, which can also be applied to shrubs.
For the birds:
Put up birdhouses now. If you’re interested in attracting bluebirds to your yard, the Michigan Bluebird Society has lots of great tips.
Check existing birdhouses before cleaning them out to make sure they aren’t already being occupied. If the nesting materials in the box look at all new and fresh, leave them – it’s an indication you already have tenants.
If the materials look old, clean them out to give the birds a fresh start.
If you are wondering when hummingbirds will start arriving in our area, there’s a website that tracks the migration.
Right now, they are still a bit south of us, but it won’t be too long before we start seeing them at our feeders, and orioles should be showing up at about the same time.
Make sure your feeders are ready for them – check for cracks and replace them if needed. As the temperatures start to warm up, put your feeders out during the day to help early arrivers find food. If the temps dip below freezing at night, be sure to bring the feeders indoors to prevent cracking.
