April Gardening Tasks: Spring into Action!
April is a thrilling time for gardeners—winter’s chill is fading, and gardens are bursting back to life. Whether you’re tending to flower beds, vegetable gardens, or your lawn, there’s plenty to do this month to set up a thriving, beautiful landscape for the growing season.
Here’s your April gardening to-do list to help you stay ahead of the season:
1. Prepare Garden Beds & Soil
Before planting, take time to refresh your garden beds:
- Remove weeds, dead plants, and debris from flower beds and vegetable plots.
- Loosen compacted soil by turning it with a garden fork or tiller.
- Add compost or aged manure to improve soil health and provide nutrients.
- If needed, test your soil’s pH and amend it with lime (to raise pH) or sulfur (to lower pH).
2. Plant Early Vegetables & Flowers
April is the perfect time to plant cool-season crops and early blooms:
- Vegetables to plant: Lettuce, spinach, carrots, radishes, peas, onions, broccoli, and potatoes.
- Flowers to plant: Pansies, violas, snapdragons, alyssum, and sweet peas.
- Start warm-season vegetable seeds indoors, like tomatoes, peppers, and basil, to transplant later.
3. Prune & Divide Perennials
- Prune roses, hydrangeas, and other shrubs—cut back dead or weak branches to encourage healthy growth.
- Divide overgrown perennials like hostas, daylilies, and ornamental grasses, replanting divisions in new areas.
4. Mulch & Weed Control
- Apply a fresh layer of mulch (2–3 inches) around trees, shrubs, and garden beds to suppress weeds and retain moisture.
- Stay ahead of spring weeds by hand-pulling them early before they spread.
5. Care for Your Lawn
- Apply a spring lawn fertilizer to give your grass a boost.
- Overseed thin or patchy areas to encourage a lush lawn.
- If needed, apply a pre-emergent weed preventer (like crabgrass control) early in the month.
6. Prep Garden Structures & Tools
- Clean and sharpen gardening tools for easier pruning and digging.
- Inspect and repair trellises, fences, and raised beds before plants start growing.
- Clean out birdhouses and feeders to welcome back spring visitors.
7. Start Container Gardens
- Refresh last year’s pots by replacing old soil with a fresh mix.
- Begin planting spring container arrangements with cold-tolerant flowers.
- Consider adding herbs like parsley, chives, and thyme for an edible container garden.
8. Keep an Eye on Frost
April weather can be unpredictable! Watch for late frosts and cover tender plants with row covers or cloches when temperatures dip.
Spring is officially here, and your garden is calling! By tackling these April gardening tasks, you’ll set yourself up for a successful and beautiful growing season. Stop by D.R. Snell Nursery for all your gardening essentials—from fresh plants to soil amendments and expert advice.
Happy gardening!
