Groundcover sedums are drought tolerant interesting plants that fill small areas with little effort or water. They grow in a vast variety of shapes and colors; they are actually succulents. Those suitable for groundcovers are flat spreaders, sold in 6-packs or 4″ pots.

Sedums have unusual foliage color when not in bloom, giving them a year-round interest in the garden. As with most ground covers, they also work well in containers, spilling over the edge, providing a beautiful contrast in color and texture. Plant them to skirt other drought-tolerant plants, or frame an interesting plant collection.

Plant Sedums six to eight inches apart in full sun. They will grow to about 6″ in height and flower in the late spring to early fall. Flower colors include pink, white or yellow. All sedums do well with a heavy, infrequent watering.

Japanese Maples In Your Garden
Japanese Maples look lovely in the nursery right now.  New spring growth is brilliant!

If you are looking for an attention-getting accent in the garden, plant a Japanese Maple with its colorful bark and cut leaves. We have a broad selection of both green and red leaf varieties, coral bark and cut leaf specimens. Now is the time to take advantage of perfect planting weather and select Maples in their prime. Included in our collection this year are:

Emperor One – has dark purple-red foliage. In the fall it turns a brilliant scarlet-red color.

Bloodgood – offers cut, purple-red leaves that hold their color well through the summer. In the fall it has beautiful, crimson-red colored foliage.

Sango Kaku – features green leaves that turn brilliant yellow in fall. After the leaves drop, the stems show off a bright coral-red color.

Viridis – delicately dissected bright green leaves turn golden-yellow and red in the autumn.

Seiryu – this lace-leaf maple has finely dissected leaves that are tolerant of heat. Foliage turns to gold, light-yellow and crimson in the fall.

Most maples appreciate afternoon shade. The lace leaf types want shade or filtered shade all day. Maple leaves can burn during the summer months not only from the heat but also from the wind and our alkaline soil and water. Improve this summers leaves by supplementing your feeding with Dyna-Gro Pro-tekt through the early months of spring. Feeding with Pro-tekt in April and May provides soluble silica for the leaf-building process. The cell walls of each leaf are tougher and more resilient against the stressors of dry summer heat.

Notes for April Gardening – April Garden Checklist

Now is the time to hang Yellow Jacket Traps. Early spring is the time to capture the colony’s queens thus exponentially reducing the yellow jackets in the area later in the year.

Make sure to fertilize all your plants to support and nurture all the beautiful spring growth. Drop in for just the right suggestion.

Protect new plantings from slugs and snails with pet safe Sluggo.

Control grubs naturally with “beneficial nematodes”. This all organic, biological approach is the best option for your veggies and other edibles. These are expected to be available later in April.

Japanese Maples are waking up from their winter’s rest. We love “bud break” season. Come see all the varieties and their magnificent spring new growth in beautiful shades of pink, red and cream.

Alden Lane Nursery has a wide selection of bedding plants for summer color. Choose favorites like petunias and marigolds, and later in the month cosmos, lobelia and zinnias. You can also plant tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and zucchini this month. Plant this month and reap the reward of bountiful produce through the summer and lots of fresh flowers for your home.

Oxalis (yellow flowered clover look-alike) can now be controlled (amazingly) in most lawns with Monterey Turflon Ester or Spurge Power.

Aphid Patrol – The warm weather has also brings out the aphids. Check the tender new growth on roses, ornamentals, fruit trees and vegetables. Hose them off with a stream of water. Control out of hand populations with Ladybugs or Master Nursery Pest Fighter All Seasons Spray Oil.

Weed Control – Be prepared with your weed tool of choice; hula hoe, dandelion weeder, hori hori knife or hand hoe. Cultivate problem areas and spread a layer of mulch to block sunlight.

Enjoy the garden in bloom then prune azaleas, camellias, and other spring bloomers after flowers fade to shape. Follow up with fertilizer Master’s Rose and Flower or Master’s Azalea & Camellia Food.

Plant, plant, plant! Fill your garden with color. We have thousands to select from including annuals, perennials, succulents, and flowering shrubs. Prepare your planting beds with our “Good Garden Soil Recipe”.

Fertilize fruit trees if you have not done so yet. Drop in for our feeding calendar.

Select a wisteria in April as they come into bloom.