April What To Do Now Calendar

Care for houseplants – Clean foliage, water regularly and fertilize. Repot as necessary. For more information on caring for houseplants, go to the Bayer Advanced houseplant page. To feed and protect from insects, use Bayer Advanced™ 2-in-1 Insect Control plus Fertilizer Plant Spikes – no spraying, no mess. Just push the spikes into the soil for up to eight weeks of nutrition and protection. To control existing insects, use Bayer Advanced™ Dual Action Rose & Flower Insect Killer Ready-To-Use.

Care for roses – Feed and protect from insects and disease with Bayer Advanced™ All-In-One Rose & Flower Care Concentrate. One application to the roots lasts up to six weeks. To control diseases, insects and spider mites, use Bayer Advanced™ 3-in-1 Insect, Disease & Mite Control Ready-To-Spray.

Control fire ants – As the weather warms and fire ants become active, treat mounds with Bayer Advanced™ Fire Ant Killer Granules or Bayer Advanced™ Fire Ant Killer Dust.

Control garden weeds – Weeds in garden beds are easiest to control when young. Use an appropriate herbicide, hoe, or pull by hand. (Be sure to take care in applying herbicides to prevent spray drift from damaging desirable plants.) To control brushy weeds such as poison oak and wild berries, use Bayer Advanced™ Brush Killer Plus Concentrate or Bayer Advanced™ Brush Killer Plus Ready-To-Use. To control tree stumps, apply Bayer Advanced™ Brush Killer Plus Concentrate to the stump using a paintbrush.

Control grubs – If you had a serious grub problem last fall but didn't treat your lawn, apply Bayer Advanced™ 24-Hour Grub Killer Plus Granules to kill existing grubs within 24 hours. To control the next generation of grubs, apply Bayer Advanced™ Season-Long Grub Control Plus Turf Revitalizer Granules in May or June. White grubs are a serious lawn pest, especially in the Northeast and Midwest. White grubs are larvae of various breeds of scarab beetles, including Japanese beetles. They are typically 0.5" to 1.5" long, milky white with a brown head and almost always curled into a C shape. White grubs live in the top few inches of soil and feed on the roots of lawn grasses. White grub damage is usually most severe in late summer, but can begin as early as mid- to late spring.

Control indoor pests – To control insects like spiders, fleas and ants, Bayer Advanced offers a complete line of home pest solutions, including the brand-new Bayer Advanced™ Home Pest plus Germ* Killer Indoor and Outdoor Insect Killer Ready-To-Spray. It provides up to 12 months of indoor insect protection**, plus it reduces 99.9% of the germs insects may carry. For easier-than-ever control of roaches, use the Bayer Advanced™ Dual Action Roach Killer Power Pen® Ready-To-Use. It’s easy to use, providing up to 6 months of control with the touch of a button. For more information, visit the Bayer Advanced Indoor Pest Control Web page.

*Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter aerogenes on hard, nonporous, nonfood contact surfaces. No residual sanitizer action. Not for primary use as a sanitizer.

**For German cockroaches, black carpenter ants and house crickets on nonporous surfaces.

Control lawn diseases – To protect lawns from brown patch and other diseases, use Bayer Advanced™ Fungus Control for Lawns Granules II. One application cures and protects lawns from disease for up to two months.

Control lawn insects – In Southern areas, chinch bugs may be active in St Augustine lawns. Control both aboveground and belowground pests in soil and turf with Bayer Advanced™ Complete Insect Killer For Soil & Turf Concentrate.

Control lawn weeds – Control weeds with Bayer Advanced™ All-In-One Lawn Weed & Crabgrass Killer Ready-To-Spray (not for use on St. Augustine grass, bahia, bentgrass, carpetgrass, centipede grass or dicondra). It kills more than 200 broadleaf and grassy weeds (including crabgrass). Follow label directions carefully. To control Bermudagrass in Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass and fescue lawns without harming them when used as directed, use Bayer Advanced™ Bermudagrass Control for Lawns Ready-To-Spray. To control weeds in Southern lawns such as St. Augustine, use Bayer Advanced™ Southern Weed Killer for Lawns Ready-To-Spray. Always follow label directions carefully.

Control moss and algae – Cool, moist weather promotes growth of moss and algae on the sides of homes, roofs, patios and in lawns. Control with Bayer Advanced™ 2-in-1 Moss & Algae Killer Ready-To-Spray. It kills within hours and protects for months.

Control slugs and snails – Protect flowers, vegetables and other tender plants with Bayer Advanced™ Dual Action Snail & Slug Killer Bait Granules. It can be used around pets and wildlife.

Fertilize – Feed woody landscape plants, vegetables and flowers with quality fertilizer.

Fertilize lawns – If you didn't fertilize last fall, feed cool-season lawns now. As Southern lawns, such as Bermudagrass and St. Augustine, begin to green-up, feed them as well.

Landscape – It's prime planting season for everything from flowering trees and shrubs to ground covers, citrus and roses. Protect new ornamental plantings from insects with Bayer Advanced™ 12-Month Tree & Shrub Insect Control Concentrate. Or, to feed and protect, use Bayer Advanced™ 12-Month Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed Concentrate.

Plant flowers – In northern areas you can still plant cool-season annuals like pansies, calendulas and violas, and perennials, such as candytuft and geraniums. In southern areas you can also plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus, calla and dahlias. Where frosts are history, start summer annuals like zinnias, marigolds and cosmos from seed or transplants. Protect from insects with Bayer Advanced™ Dual Action Rose & Flower Insect Killer Ready-To-Use.

Plant lawns – In northern areas, this is a good time to plant cool-season lawns like Kentucky bluegrass, fescue, rye and bentgrass from seed or sod. Farther south, start warm-season lawns like Bermudagrass and St. Augustine.

Plant vegetables and herbs – In many northern areas, there's still time to plant quick-maturing cool-season vegetables, such as lettuce, carrots and beets. Where frosts are no longer a threat (otherwise protect plants with row covers), plant the first warm-season crops, such as tomatoes, squash and corn. Also plant mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary and thyme. Protect vegetables listed on the label from insects with Bayer Advanced™ PowerForce® Multi-Insect Killer Concentrate or Bayer Advanced™ Complete Insect Dust For Gardens Ready-To-Use.

Protect azaleas – Use Bayer Advanced™ 12-Month Tree & Shrub Insect Control Concentrate to prevent damage from lace bugs. To control insects and protect from disease, use Bayer Advanced™ Dual Protection Azalea, Camellia & Rhododendron Insect & Disease Control Concentrate.

Sow seeds – In northern areas, start warm-season vegetable and flower seeds indoors for transplanting outdoors later. Where frosts are past, sow or plant directly in the ground.

Water lawns – Check irrigation systems. Fix clogs and broken sprinklers. Adjust spray heads. Begin watering when the weather warms, but only after soil has partially dried. Check with your local water department or cooperative extension service for lawn watering guidelines.