April Gardening Tips

Except for an unusual season, the mid-Atlantic will see its last spring frosts this month…we can only hope!  Temperatures are generally pleasant, ideal for planting geraniums, cannas, azaleas, camellias, and lantanas. Plant as early as possible to allow new plantings to get established before summer heat arrives.  Flowers may open on irises, peonies, rhododendrons, and dogwoods, making this one of the prettiest months. 

Here are some helpful tips for getting those gardens going:

Indoor Gardening:

Once the danger of frost passes, move houseplants outdoors into a shady location.  To keep potting soil from drying out too quickly, sink pots in soil, move to a self-watering pot, or set smaller pots inside larger ones and fill the space between with damp sand or vermiculite.

Take cuttings of houseplants to increase a collection or share with friends.  Root stem cuttings (also spider plant babies) in moist vermiculite, perlite, or peat-based potting mix.

Woody Plants:

Plant balled-and-burlapped or container nursery stock, and water thoroughly. 

Prune spring-flowering trees and shrubs after flowers fade.  Thin crowded branches, cut back long limbs, and head back stems to fill open areas.  

Mulch newly planted trees and shrubs growing in well-drained soil with wood chips, shredded bark, gravel or compost.  A thick acid mulch such as pine needles, or oak-leaf compost is ideal for azaleas, rhododendrons, and mountain laurel.  Put a layer of newspaper or landscape fabric down first to discourage weeds.

Lawns:  

After the lawn turns green, use a slow-release nitrogen product.

Mow regularly according to grass type, leaving short clippings to nourish the lawn.

Flowers:

In frost-free weather, plant summer-blooming bulbs such as cannas, gladiolus, dahlias and begonias.  If surprised by a cold snap, cover tender flowers with a sheet or basket.

Clip old flowers off spring-blooming bulbs, but let foliage stay until it turns yellow.  Cut back or dig and divide early blooming perennials after flowering.

Fertilize annuals and container plants with manure tea, fish emulsion, or water-soluble organic fertilizer.

To prevent black spot on roses, apply organic fungicides such as sulfur or copper-containing soaps.  Clean up fallen leaves or replace disease-susceptible roses with disease-resistance types.

Kitchen Garden:

Towards the end of the month, plant frost tender vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes, lima and snap beans, eggplant, squash, pumpkins, okra, watermelon, and cucumbers.   

Thin seedlings of early-planted crops, such as carrots, lettuce, spinach, and beets, to their proper spacing.  

Remove blossoms from newly set strawberry plants to allow better establishment.  Six weeks after planting, allow day-neutral strawberries to begin to flower.  If planted in fall, allow the plants to flower and fruit in spring.

Plant bush beans every 3 weeks for extended harvest.  Or make a single planting of pole beans, which are productive over a longer period.

Around The Yard: 

Compost seedless weeds and garden cuttings unless diseased.  Add 5-10-5 fertilizer and keep compost pile moist to hasten decomposition.