Garden almanac

Little Gray “Bugs”

An overhead shot shows a dark grey or black woodlouse, also known as a roly-poly, crawling on a rough, light-colored stone or concrete surface. The woodlouse has a segmented shell with small yellow spots and is positioned vertically in the center of the frame. The background is a mix of small pebbles, dirt, and textured rock.

You might be noticing a bunch of little gray “bugs” with lots of legs hanging out in your basement, under mulch, or around old wood. Those are sowbugs or pillbugs. Fun fact: they’re not actually insects at all, they’re crustaceans… more closely related to lobsters than anything else!

They love cool, damp, dark places, which is why they show up where they do. The good news? They don’t cause any harm. In fact, they’re helpful, they feed on decaying material and can even take in heavy metals like lead. So, if you can, it’s best to just leave them be. If you’re trying to tell them apart, pillbugs are the ones that can roll up into a tight little ball, while sowbugs can’t.

When it comes to planting trees and shrubs, diversity really matters. We’ve seen what happens when we rely too heavily on one type, like American elms, which were wiped out by Dutch elm disease, and now green ash trees are being hit hard by the emerald ash borer (along with native borers). Even some commonly planted pines and spruces are struggling with fungal diseases.

Douglas Fir standing in front of a forest area
Douglas Fir
Silver Ray Korean Pine standing in front of a group of evergreen trees
Silver Ray Korean Pine
Two ornamental trees with a Douglas Fir pyramidal shape in the city park in spring sunny weather
Concolor Fir

Mixing things up is the way to go. Some great evergreen options to consider are Concolor fir and Douglas fir. The five-needle pines are also solid choices, like limber pine, Japanese white pine, Korean pine (like ‘Silver Ray’), and Swiss stone pine.

Sugar and Spice viburnum blossoms with flowers with a tint of pink

If you’re thinking about adding shrubs, viburnums are definitely worth a look. They’re tough, handle winter well, and can tolerate dry conditions. One standout is the Sugar ‘n Spice viburnum—it grows fairly quickly to about 8 feet tall and wide and produces large, fragrant flower clusters that smell a bit like sweet cloves.

Now’s also the time to start thinking about crabgrass control in your lawn. Crabgrass begins to germinate when soil temperatures hit around 55°F. With cooler weather hanging around, aiming for around May 1st is usually a safe bet. If you’re targeting sandburs or foxtail as well, plan on a second application a couple of weeks later when soil temps reach about 65°F.

And one last thing that comes up a lot, cross-pollination in vine crops. You don’t need to worry too much about spacing them apart. A cucumber plant will always produce cucumbers true to its variety, and the same goes for melons and squash. The only time cross-pollination really matters is if you’re saving seeds; those seeds may produce something a little different the next year.

Astronomy

🌌 Night Sky This Week: Through April 17th, 2026 🌠

Spring is definitely starting to make itself known in the night sky this week, and it’s a fun change to watch unfold. The evenings are getting longer, the air still has a bit of a chill, and the stars are slowly shifting into their new seasonal lineup. It’s that in-between time where winter hasn’t quite let go, but spring is clearly taking over. A perfect excuse is to step outside for a few minutes and just look up.

🌙 Evening Highlights

After sunset, one of the first things you’ll notice is Jupiter shining bright and steady. It’s high enough to catch your eye right away and sticks around for most of the evening before slowly dropping toward the western horizon. If you’ve got binoculars, take a quick look, you might spot its four largest moons lined up like tiny pinpoints of light.

Sky chart for April 18-19 at dusk showing Taurus constellation, Venus, Aldebaran, Pleiades, and crescent moons over a silhouetted landscape.

Low in the western sky, Venus is putting on a great show as well. It’s brilliant and hard to miss, often popping out before the rest of the stars. It sets a couple of hours after the Sun, so it’s a fun challenge to see how early you can pick it out in the fading twilight.

And if you’ve got a darker view to the west, you might even catch a faint glow stretching upward after sunset—that’s the zodiacal light, sometimes called “false dusk.” It’s subtle, but mid-April is one of the better times of year to see it.

🌅 Early Morning Highlights

If you’re up early (or just getting home late), a little something is waiting before sunrise, too.

Planets Mercury, Mars, and Saturn align in eastern morning sky on April 15, 2026. Text indicates "East." Silhouetted trees below.

Mercury is starting to peek into the morning sky, though it stays very low near the horizon. You’ll need a clear view to the east and good timing, look about 45 minutes before sunrise. On April 15, the Moon will sit just above and to the left of it, which helps point the way.

Mars and Saturn are also beginning to creep back into view before sunrise. They’re still low and not easy to see yet, but in the coming weeks, they’ll become more noticeable before sunrise.

✨ Constellations in the Night Sky this Week

This is where things really show the seasonal shift.

Constellations of Canis Major, Canis Minor, and Orion in a starry night sky, with labeled figures of a dog and a hunter.

Look toward the southwest in the evening, and you’ll still catch the last of the winter constellations hanging on:

  • Orion – The Hunter
    Still easy to spot with its famous three-star belt. Betelgeuse glows with a reddish tint at one shoulder, while Rigel shines bright at the opposite foot. It’s one of the best “anchor” constellations for finding your way around the sky.
  • Canis Major – The Big Dog
    Trailing behind Orion, this constellation is home to Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. It tends to sparkle and flash colors, especially on crisp nights.
  • Canis Minor – The Little Dog
    Smaller and simpler, marked by the bright star Procyon, sitting off to the side of Orion.
Starry night sky with labeled constellations Orion and the Winter Triangle. Includes Sirius, Procyon, and Betelgeuse stars.

The Winter Triangle
Made up of Betelgeuse, Sirius, and Procyon, this large triangle is still visible after sunset—but it’s sliding west a little more each night as spring takes over.

One of the biggest changes you’ll notice this time of year isn’t just what you see, it’s how long you see it. Twilight is stretching out, and the sky takes its time getting fully dark. Evenings feel softer, slower, and a little more relaxed compared to winter’s quick drop into night.

It’s a subtle shift—but it’s one of the sure signs that spring has arrived. 🌱

Garden almanac

Temperature Swings in the Landscape

With all the temperature swings in the landscape we’ve been having lately, it’s no surprise our plants are a little confused. Those warm days get things growing, and then a cold snap comes right along and nips them back. It can be especially tough on perennials and spring bulbs just starting to wake up.

Hosta plant that has freeze damage with Brown and yellow leaves.

If your perennials took a hit and you’re seeing brown, frozen leaves, don’t panic. Just clean them up a bit, remove the dead foliage, and trim back any tip damage. Most of the time, the plant itself is still fine and will push new growth as things settle down. As for spring bulbs, this is a good time to practice a little patience. Leave them alone and see what happens. They’re tougher than they look. That said, if the damage was severe, you might see fewer or no blooms next year.

When you’re getting ready to work your flowerbeds or garden, a little prep goes a long way. Spread a couple of inches of compost or peat moss over the surface, then till it in about 3 to 4 inches deep. Try not to go much deeper than that, or you risk bringing a fresh batch of weed seeds up to the surface. If you’re dealing with heavier clay soil, mixing in some sand can help improve drainage and make things easier for roots to grow.

Companion planting with yellow marigolds in front of rainbow Swiss chard.

It’s also a great time to think about companion planting. Adding flowers in with your vegetables isn’t just for looks, they help attract pollinators, which can mean better yields on crops like tomatoes and vine plants. As for keeping pests away, results can vary. But if you’ve had success with certain combinations in the past, it’s worth sticking with what works.

Around the house, mulch can sometimes be more trouble than it’s worth, especially with wind and heavy rains. I’ve had bark chips wash away or scatter more times than I can count. One trick that’s worked well is using a light spray glue to hold the mulch in place. It keeps things looking neat, and it safely breaks down over time. Just keep in mind, it’s not a one-and-done fix—you’ll likely need to reapply it now and then.

Golden aspen tress with yellow fall foliage in front of evergreens.

If you’re thinking about adding a tree this year, one that’s been gaining popularity is the prairie golden aspen. It’s a bit tougher than the more common quaking aspen and handles conditions out here a little better. It can grow to around 40 feet tall with about 20 feet spread, and in the fall, it really puts on a show with bright yellow leaves. It’s not overly picky about soil, but like most trees, it does best in well-drained areas.

Brown bags of bagworms on the tips of an arborvitae.

Another thing to keep an eye out for is a newer pest in our area, the bagworm. You’ll notice them as small, bag-like formations hanging from the tips of evergreen branches. If you catch them early, the easiest solution is just to pick them off and dispose of them. If you’re considering spraying, timing is everything. Treatments are most effective in June when the young caterpillars are active and exposed.

And finally, if you’re itching to get ahead on lawn care, especially with preemergent for crabgrass or sandbur, hold off just a bit longer. It’s still a little early, and applying too soon can reduce how well it works when you really need it.

This time of year is always a bit of a balancing act, but with a little patience and a few simple steps, your yard and garden will be in good shape heading into the growing season.