April: The pace picks up!
Green Scene

William Shakespeare: "April hath put a spirit of youth in everything."

Dare to dream! Patience has its own sweet rewards. When you are struck with the urge to root in the dirt, you are in your own world. It's an elusive combination: hard labor with satisfaction on its heels. The speed bumps you encounter in your pursuit of happiness are minor compared to the joy and pleasure you will reap.

Who does not love azaleas? In recent years, new azalea hybridizations have produced varieties that combine easy-care requirements with yearround landscape color. Encore azaleas explode with color in spring, summer and fall, and several offer unique winter foliage. Full sun to light shade is desirable. Discover them in your garden center.

Finish pruning this month. If heavyweight shrubs are overtaking your garden and need rejuvenation, cut one-third of the oldest canes to the ground to promote new growth. Maintain good posture and keep your back as straight as possible while gardening. Bend at the knees, not with your back, and use extendable-handle tools wherever possible. Take on heavy gardening jobs earlier in the morning with a frontal assault. Tools that feel comfortable reduce the strain on your joints. Among the best on the market are Corona tools, developed in conjunction with the Ergonomics Center of North Carolina to allow gardeners to spend more time doing what they love without the pain.

Just as important as knowing what to prune, is in knowing what not to prune in early spring. Don't touch forsythia, lilac, viburnum, mock orange and spirea now, because they all flower on old wood. The time to prune them is during the growing season, immediately after flowering. Flashes of satisfaction will be your companions.

Set out supports for peonies before they get too large. Divide and transplant any perennials. Fertilize those that have been in the ground for at least one year. Mulch to retain moisture and stabilize soil temperatures.

If your garden lacks zing, consider the 2009 Perennial Plant of the Year, Hakonechloa macra "Aureola," a variegated Japanese forest grass. Aureola

forms mounds of bright yellow and lime green striped leaves that seem to flow like a waterfall, adding texture and movement to any garden. It's an easy color for sun or part shade. All-America Selections (AAS) winners were announced, and their seeds will be available in your garden center after May 1:

Gaillardia "Mesa Yellow" is the first hybrid blanket flower with a controlled plant habit and prolific flowering. The 3-inch daisy-like flowers with superior colors bloom throughout the summer.

Snapdragon "Twinny Peach" is a new dwarf, double-flowered snap with a blend of unique colors in peach, yellow and light orange for a novel fusion. Exceptional garden performance and tolerance to hot and wet summer weather seems an ideal combination for New Jersey gardens.

Another winner is zinnia "Zahara Starlight Rose," with white and rose bicolor blooms. Disease resistance and continuous flowering with minimal plant care will make this plant a favorite.

Sometimes magical things happen when the seed of an idea gets planted and grows to take on a life of its own. Plant A Row for the Hungry, Feeding America, and Scotts Miracle-Gro launched a "GroGood" campaign in March, challenging Americans to plant food gardens and share their bounty with others in need. President Barack Obama and his family started a vegetable and herb garden in a portion of the White House lawn. The garden will provide food for the family's meals, even formal dinners, but will also educate their children about healthful, locally grown fruits and vegetables. This will draw attention to a campaign that calls on Americans to plant a garden and add an extra pot, plot or row, so they, too, can enjoy healthful vegetables while sharing their extra produce with those in need.

Gotti Kelley, past president of the Navesink Garden Club, serves on the board of The Garden Club of New Jersey.