For most of the country, April is the month when most of the real work in the garden begins. Clean-up, planting, and getting the garden off to a great start are the name of the game this month.
This list is broken down into short season regions, mid-length season regions, and long season regions for the sake of simplicity. Here is how the regions are determined:
- Short Season: USDA Hardiness Zones 1-4
- Mid-Length Season: USDA Hardiness Zones 5-7
- Long Season: USDA Hardiness Zones 8-11
If you are unsure which zone you are in, please check out the
USDA Hardiness Zone Map.
Short Season Region Tasks for April
- Spread compost or well-rotted manure onto the vegetable garden. You can leave it as-is or dig it into the top few inches of soil.
- Start inspecting your garden for signs of early insect or disease problems.
- Fertilize perennials before or during bloom with fish emulsion, which is a balanced organic fertlizer.
- Prune winter damage from rose bushes.
- Start looking for weeds in your lawn and garden beds. Pull or hoe them as soon as you can.
- Later this month, fertilize your lawn with fish emulsion or seaweed extract.
- Rake up and compost any debris from your lawn.
- Start seeds indoors for warm-season vegetables such as eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes during the first week of the month.
- Start seeds for herbs such as dill and basil indoors any time this month.
- Dig and divide summer and fall blooming perennials any time this month once the soil can be worked.
- Seed to fill in bare or weak looking patches of your lawn.
Midlength Season Region Tasks for April
- Cover cool season transplants to protect them from flying insects.
- Check your garden regularly for signs of pest and disease problems.
- Feed early-blooming perennials with bonemeal or manure after they finish blooming. This will encourage strong root and foliage growth for the rest of the season.
- Feed your lawn with seaweed extract or fish emulsion.
- Seed over any bare or thin patches in your lawn.
- Put peony supports in place.
- Turn your compost pile.
- Plant carrots, swiss chard, cabbage, broccoli, and lettuce.
- Plant bare root roses.
Long Season Region Tasks for April
- Check for garden pests and diseases regularly. Treat any problems as soon as possible.
- Stake tall perennials, such as hollyhocks and foxgloves.
- Feed fruit trees and bushes with well-rotted manure and fish emulsion.
- Deadhead perennials as needed to promote additional bloom.
