April Garden Chores: Preparing Your Lawn and Landscape
Happy Spring! Our projected last frost date for the area is April 9. On that note, it’s time to engage as the temperatures warm and your garden begins to bloom again! Hopefully all the hard work you did during winter has set you up for success this spring. Here’s a task list from For Garden’s Sake in Durham to guide you through the essential chores for April:
Your Task List
- Planning & Preparation:
- Set up trellises, stakes, and cages for vining and tall plants (tomatoes, cucumbers) before planting.
- Prepare warm-season vegetable beds by adding compost and necessary amendments.
- Ensure frost protection (row covers, blankets) is accessible, as late frosts can still occur.
- Maintenance:
- Weed diligently as temperatures rise; warm-season weeds will begin to emerge rapidly.
- Apply a layer of mulch (2-3 inches) to vegetable and flower beds to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
- Begin weekly feeding of seedlings that have been transplanted into the garden or are still indoors.
- Monitor for common spring pests like aphids and slugs; treat as necessary.
- Prune spring-flowering shrubs (e.g., Forsythia, Quince, Lilac) immediately after they finish blooming.
- Planting & Starting:
- Outdoor Planting: Sow seeds directly for warm-season crops like bush beans, summer squash, zucchini, and corn later in the month once the soil is consistently warm and the threat of frost has mostly passed.
- Transplanting: Harden off and transplant cool-season vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, kale) into the garden.
- Tender Transplants (Late April): Begin hardening off warm-season seedlings (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, basil) for planting out around the last average frost date (usually late April/early May).
- Plant summer-flowering bulbs (e.g., Dahlias, Gladiolus) after the last expected frost.
- Plant annual flowers and vegetables from the garden center, focusing on both cool-season bloomers and starting to introduce heat-tolerant varieties.
- Harvesting:
- Continue harvesting cool-season crops: radishes, lettuce, spinach, and other greens.
- Harvest asparagus and rhubarb regularly.
- Pick early strawberries if the season is advanced
These tasks are important in April! Don’t delay: you’ll be well-prepared for the lush growth that spring will bring. Each chore is an investment in a thriving lawn and garden, setting the stage for a successful gardening season. Happy Spring!
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