Is it too early to plant grass seeds and transplant bushes/trees

Are the nights still too cold?  If so, when's a good time to do this?

frost tolerant plants will be fine. Tender perennials, not yet. Actually a good time for trees and shrubs as the cold weather will help with transplant shock. Grass, not sure. Maybe wait until mid April?

Based on past research, I'd wait until the days are in the 60s and the nights aren't below 45 (which is why fall is the ideal time to reseed).  I put down crabgrass preventer 2 weeks ago, figuring that the end of April would be the ideal time to plant seed.

you can plant bushes now - it's fine.  There's not a ton of material in the nurseries yet, but what is there is fine to plant.

Buut it is too early for mulch!  Oy, I saw some 'landscapers' putting down mulch the other day...so stupid.

Oh no! @ffof --Why is putting down mulch now stupid? I thought it'd be ok.

The ground is still relatively cold and powdery mildew and other fungus are just sitting dormant on top of the soil.  If you mulch now, the fungii will be trapped.  Before mulching, the soil needs some good warm days with sun high in the sky so that soil 'bakes'.  Best time for mulch is early/mid June.  

Here's lots of info about mulch:

http://www.renegadegardener.com/content/dontdothat2003.htm

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/skill-builder/0,,451367,00.html

http://www.gardendesign.com/how-to/mulch.html

My perennials completely fill in my garden by June, so I don't even mulch anymore.  In the late fall, I collect the mulching mower clippings (mix of grass and old leaves) and put that on my garden. It breaks down thru the winter and good for the soil.

Good to know --thank you!

What's a good time to plant skip laurels?

oh no i did all my mulching already    now i feel stupid for being proactive

joy said:

frost tolerant plants will be fine. Tender perennials, not yet. Actually a good time for trees and shrubs as the cold weather will help with transplant shock. Grass, not sure. Maybe wait until mid April?

What are tender perennials - annuals?

Grass seed put down (in early March) at sites of the water meter installations (performed over winter) in Maplewood  has already begun to germinate. It will do fine; extra long period for good root development. 

In past years, I've successfully transplanted overwintering snapdragons in early March, with subsequent refreezing of the soil. No problem.

lanky said:

Based on past research, I'd wait until the days are in the 60s and the nights aren't below 45 (which is why fall is the ideal time to reseed).  I put down crabgrass preventer 2 weeks ago, figuring that the end of April would be the ideal time to plant seed.

Fall is the ideal time to reseed? The turfgrass folks at Rutgers say:  Aug 15 - Oct 5, with "the earlier date most desirable". Was the crabgrass preventer put down 2 weeks ago siduron(as you suggest you will be planting seed in a month)?

ffof said:



Buut it is too early for mulch!  Oy, I saw some 'landscapers' putting down mulch the other day...so stupid.

I also saw fresh new mulch covering a garden today.  This garden always does it now. Very well known garden, both to anyone who drops their kids off at South Mountain Elementary School, as well as to garden fans everywhere. Always successful, prolific, and beautiful. The homeowners are their own "landscapers". As knowledgeable as anyone in "our two towns".

ffof said:

  If you mulch now, the fungii will be trapped.  

To delay mulching because of worry about this would be a real shanda. 

Disclosure: I don't mulch.

sorry, meant annuals. 

dickf3 said:

lanky said:

Based on past research, I'd wait until the days are in the 60s and the nights aren't below 45 (which is why fall is the ideal time to reseed).  I put down crabgrass preventer 2 weeks ago, figuring that the end of April would be the ideal time to plant seed.

Was the crabgrass preventer put down 2 weeks ago siduron(as you suggest you will be planting seed in a month)?

.

No clue about what's in it, it's Scotts brand.  It's also left over from last year, so I don't know if it's still effective or has an expiry.  Guess I'll find out if crabgrass starts a-growing.

While I'm here, what's everyone's preferred grass?  A fescue variety?  Kentucky bluegrass?  Other?

dickf3 said:

ffof said:



Buut it is too early for mulch!  Oy, I saw some 'landscapers' putting down mulch the other day...so stupid.

I also saw fresh new mulch covering a garden today.  This garden always does it now. Very well known garden, both to anyone who drops their kids off at South Mountain Elementary School, as well as to garden fans everywhere. Always successful, prolific, and beautiful. The homeowners are their own "landscapers". As knowledgeable as anyone in "our two towns".

ffof said:

  If you mulch now, the fungii will be trapped.  

To delay mulching because of worry about this would be a real shanda. 

Disclosure: I don't mulch.

laugh all you want.  It's too early to mulch.

and please, no volcano mulching.

https://njaes.rutgers.edu/garden/faq.asp?c=4&s=37&q=70