Every month, there are tasks to take on in your garden for each month. As planting seasons begin in earnest, the gardener’s to-do list grows longer! Here are appropriate tasks for April:
Keep weeds under control
If you haven’t gone out and peered down at the garden soil in your beds, you’ll no doubt notice that the weeds have made headway since the last time you checked.
The better able you are to, at least, keep stride with emerging weeds, the better. The most recent-past Purdue Extension Office Educator Kris Medic and I agree that old-fashioned, manual, hands-and-knees weeding is more likely to assure that you get root and all.
Besides, I hate do-overs, in all realms of life, don’t you?
Sow hardy annuals and wildflowers now
By now, you’ve probably zeroed in on some herbs and hardy annuals that you’d like to use for cooking and/or see blooming this summer.
Always check the back of the seed packet for specific planting information, but now’s a good time to direct sow many of the most common ones.
Plant tender annual plants in cold frames now
Frost protection is needed, but tender annuals can be planted (or stored in their containers) in a cold frame.
This intermediary step is in preparation for planting them out where they’ll bloom (but no earlier than May 10 in Columbus).
Check online for how to make a simple cold frame that’s easy to put up and remove, as needed.
Plant new shrubs and hardy perennials
You’ve probably noticed the big-box stores around town all competing for the best display of eye-catching shrubs and perennial plants. This is to entice shoppers to get busy and plant.
Now that we’re into April, feel free to give in and purchase! As always, check tags for planting instructions or visit your trusted nursery owner where you can ask direct questions.
Find out when and where it’s best to place your plant selections, based on ideal growing conditions (soil, light, watering needs).
Feed established shrubs and roses
Use an all-purpose fertilizer or, better yet, a natural fertilizer like manure or compost, and work it into the soil around plants.
Natural fertilizers are, by nature, safe and non-burning, and promote healthy root systems.
My trusty 1954 “Better Homes and Gardens Garden Book” states, “Your compost heap can be the answer in keeping your lawn and garden soil at a [recommended] pH value not in excess of 6.5.”
If you use a commercial fertilizer, pay attention to label directions. Hostas and daylilies that haven’t been divided for a few years are due to be divided.
Divide newly emerging perennials
Hostas, daylilies, irises, and lily turf all benefit from being divided into smaller plants that can then be planted elsewhere.
This is a great way to “spread the love” around your property, and it’s cost-effective, too!
Give love to lawns, too
Now’s the time to sow grass seed and repair bare patches.
Netting placed over sown grass seed will help protect seed from birds.
During dry spells, make sure that ground is kept moist to assist seed germination.
Look for an all-inclusive, handy-dandy garden handbook that covers all aspects of gardening like my 1954 guide to serve as a useful resource.
Sure, certain landscaping styles and preferences change over the years, but the garden information included is likely to not have changed.
Becky Pinto has been a Master Gardener since 2006 and was the Master Gardener newsletter editor from 2006-2019. She’s a Silver Level Master Gardener, based on cumulative volunteer hours served in the program. Her columns publish on the second Saturday of each month in The Republic. All opinions expressed are those of the writer. Send comments to [email protected].
