Spring is sprung and tips are here

THE GARDEN FANATIC

“[Easter] is a religious ... activity of spring in our blood.”

-- WALLACE STEVENS

“ ... We call this Friday good.”

-- T.S. ELIOT

My earliest recollections of Easter are images of fellow boys

squirming in Sunday school, anticipating the hunt for brightly

colored, hard-boiled eggs in the church parking lot. Gardening was

the last thing on my mind; after all, it’s still the ‘50s, and I

haven’t progressed beyond raking bougainvillea leaves (as messy then

as they are now).

April stirs a gardener’s blood with a host of opportunities in

Laguna -- the largest selection of flowers, vegetables, shrubs and

trees are available this month. Your favorite nursery is literally

overflowing with tempting spring bloomers, vying for attention with

Easter holiday plants. Read on, and let’s get back to the garden with

the Plant Man.

Q: I forgot to fertilize last month. Am I too late?

A: Absolutely not. But the sooner you do so, the quicker your

plants will benefit.

Q: Mr. Plantman, should I prune my fuchsias?

A: Catharine has begun to prune our fuchsias, so it’s OK. Prune

them to make them bushier this month, and to stimulate new growth.

Q: What is that orange stuff on my rose leaves?

A: Rose rust is a fungus that appears on the undersides of the

leaves first. The onset of moderate temperatures and the presence of

moisture allow the spores to infest roses. Spray either Funginex or

Orthonex at seven-day intervals for best control. Keep the ground

beneath your roses raked up and clean!

Q: Plant Man! What’s the best annual color now?

A: I would recommend planting marigolds, petunias, cosmos, phlox

and bedding begonias for brilliant color in April.

Q: Is it time to plant vegetables?

A: Vegetable planting is well under way. Seeds of most kinds may

be sown now, such as beets, carrots, corn, lettuce, peas and

radishes. Tomatoes, cucumbers, pepper and eggplant may be found from

starters.

Q: Hi Plant Man. Will Daylight Savings have an effect on my

plants?

A: Only that your plants will have more attention from you,

because you’ll be able to garden into the early evening!

I call every Friday good, because the fifth day marks the

beginning of the weekend. However, the third Friday of this month is

special, as it will find me “opening” my Easter basket at my mother’s

home. Nestled amid the artificial grass will be brightly colored,

hard-boiled eggs and jellybeans that I will put aside for later. At

that moment, heart racing, I only want to satiate my addiction, and

it will be there for the 47th consecutive year, the foil wrapped,

chocolate Easter bunny. See you next time.

* STEVE KAWARATANI is the owner of Landscapes by Laguna Nursery,

1540 S. Coast Highway in Laguna Beach. He is married to local artist

Catharine Cooper and has three cats. He can be reached at (949)

497-2438, or by e-mail at plantm@lagunanursery.com.