Don't be watering that lawn yet

It's too early to be watering the lawn. Temperatures are low, there is plenty of water in the ground and the longer you wait to provide extra water, the further down the roots of your grass will reach to access whatever water remains. Deep roots makes your grass more resilient to drought. Usually there is no need to water until at least the first week of May.

Get a jump start for melons and squash

Melons and squash are very tender starts and don't like to have their root systems disturbed. For that reason, most people plant them directly in the garden when the weather is warm. They start easily and grow quickly so the starts you buy at the garden center are usually only about a week old. But the fruits from these plants will continue growing as long as there is no frost to kill them off, so it makes sense to extend the life of the plant by starting them earlier in doors. If you have a large container you can give them (like a big and WIDE), you can start them now and then transplant them outdoors in late-May.

Peas are up!

Yay! I thought the seeds were duds because they took so long. Aren't they cute?

To Do this Saturday

In addition to fertilizing the lawn, I've got to trim up my sedge grasses. They are "evergreen" but they really look horrible right now. If I trim them too early (in March) the new growing tips will also turn brown and I have to trim them again. Also give them some fertilizer.

And those dang ice plants. They are gorgeous and I absolutely love how reliable they are, but I have to give them a "haircut" every spring to get the dead bloom heads off. They will bloom like crazy in May and then bloom more gracefully for the rest of the season and be a nice ground cover for this dry climate.

Fertilize the lawn April 16

Time for a general "weed and feed" fertilizer for your lawn. If you didn't already have your lawn aerated, get that done beforehand so the water and nutrients have a better chance of getting down to the grass roots.

Some varieties from Sun River

I just got a newsletter from Sun River Gardens. I think I'll try number 1 and number 8. I have to say that I prefer 'Sunsugar' over 'Sungold' on number 10 for cherry tomatoes. The 'Sunsugar' is super sweet. They rarely make it inside my house because we eat them right off the vine.

Sun River Newsletter

Now is a good time to buy your tomato plants

Pick out your tomato plants now before the varieties you want are sold out. Keep them in a sunny window, under grow lights, or protected place while you wait to plant them. Tomato plants can be planted around April 15. I love that day! Plant them under hot caps (white paper domes from the garden center). Plant them as deeply as you can. More roots will develop along the stem. Water them well and place the hot cap over the top. Secure the hot cap with dirt in the paper "moat" to keep it from blowing away. You should be able to leave it alone with no additional watering until mid- to late-May.