All the Gardening Tasks You Need to Tackle in April
The sun is back and everywhere I look there are people sitting in their yards. While yes, there is still a lot to be done, the more important thing is that in most parts of the country, weather changes mean you actually want to do them outside. The cherry blossoms are blooming, the tulips are blooming, and the ground is warming enough to begin planting outdoors.
Take notes for next year
Once the crocuses and tulips start filling the space with color, I approach my yard from different angles and just see where I might want to sprinkle in more color next year. I take photos and document it in my garden journal because by the time the bulb orders arrive, I will have long forgotten and the garden will have changed.
Weeding and feeding with compost
With nighttime temperatures approaching 50 degrees, it’s time to clear the beds and get them ready for planting. This means weeding as thoroughly as possible and then top dressing with compost if necessary. Remove litter from paths and beds because it is just food for slugs and an invitation to disease and pests. Check your own compost bins; they could probably use a good twist.
Check your perennials
First, take inventory of the perennial plants you have and see if they need to be divided. Plants grow in the space around them, but if they don’t have enough space, you can break them up and either move these new plants or exchange them for others. In the same way, you will take inventory of what was not saved this year. As the weather becomes more severe every year, even perennial plants can suffer from weather damage. This year I lost 15 year old artichokes, rhubarb and asparagus to a week long ice storm. And this means that it’s also time to go shopping. Visit nurseries or local gardening groups to purchase new perennials to plant, including in parts of your food forest.
Choose a few early-blooming annuals.
It’s still early for most flower varieties, but pansies love the cold. At this point, begin checking nurseries for snapdragons, petunias, and other early flowering plants. This is a really good time to fill hanging baskets and window boxes so they’ll be in full bloom come May. In fact, many grocery stores and day care centers will help you fill potties if you bring them; some even plan events around it.
Don’t forget the edibles
Asparagus should start appearing around now, as well as ramps and ramps (which, as a reminder, you can grow at home). It’s also time to plant the asparagus if you haven’t already, and we’re in the final stages of planting the potatoes to get them in the ground. Your artichokes should show up too; they will need fertilizers rich in nitrogen. Find your rhubarb to start peeking. It’s safe to plant strawberries once the frost has passed and you probably know someone who has some to spare.
You can continue to plant spring edibles like spinach, mustard, lettuce, radishes, carrots and onions, but if you don’t get broccoli and cauliflower in at the beginning of the month, you’ll miss your window. These are short crops, but you want to have them harvested and harvested before you need space for summer crops like tomatoes.
Check your systems
It’s time to turn your irrigation and sprinkler systems back on again this year, so schedule any inspections, such as a backflow test. After the water is supplied, check the controller and look for any signs of leaks in the lines. You can safely connect the hoses and turn off manual timers if you use them. Be sure to spray all your tools with vinegar or bleach to sterilize them, and remember to keep a spray bottle of it handy when moving around the garden looking for pruning shears. Spray them between plants to prevent disease transmission.