Gardens start to come alive this month, and if the weather cooperates, it's a time to plant, water everything and take care of the lawn.
In some areas, April brings the first signs of winter's end; in others, it's the gateway to hot, summery weather. But in most climates, it's the magical month when gardens start to come to life.
Remember to adjust gardening tips to fit your own growing season — but most important of all, wait until the last frost date to put tender plants in the ground.
Greenhouses
Here comes the sun, which means that greenhouses are starting to heat up. On warm days, be sure your greenhouse is well-ventilated. Give more regular care to greenhouse plants by stepping up your watering and fertilizing schedule. Also make sure to check your greenhouse thoroughly for pests.
Container gardens
Even beginning gardeners can brighten up a terrace, patio, deck or windowsill with containers tumbling with flowers.
Even beginning gardeners can brighten up a terrace, patio, deck or windowsill with containers tumbling with flowers.
- Use hanging baskets, pots of all sizes and planter boxes — or ask the kids to help you paint old pails or coffee cans — for clusters of color.
- Fill containers with bulbs and bedding plants to be transplanted in warmer weather, or make permanent plantings.
- Spark up potted shrubs and trees by surrounding them with dashes of perennial color.
- Group cactus plants of different heights and shapes, or try your hand at a container bonsai garden.
- Apartment dwellers, if you haven't made a windowsill herb garden, what are you waiting for?
Watering
Don't let your garden dry out before it even hits full stride. Get into the rhythm of watering regularly early in the season to ensure happy, healthy plants.
Don't let your garden dry out before it even hits full stride. Get into the rhythm of watering regularly early in the season to ensure happy, healthy plants.
- Set up a watering system to minimize the work of regularly watering your garden beds. Make sure a hose or watering can is accessible in areas that you will water often throughout the growing season.
- In container gardens, make sure that your geraniums, pansies and other container plants are getting enough water.
- This is an ideal time to check on the moisture of plantings at the base of evergreens or under eaves. These are often left parched, even in rainy climates.
