April is the transitional time between a long winter’s rest and the beginning of the busiest gardening month. But warm spring days have us itching to do at least something gardening related.
There are actually quite a few gardening activities to be done in April. Rake leaves off flowerbeds to expose newly growing crocuses, daffodils and tulips. Rake the lawn wherever leaves are matted down and smothering the grass. A few leaves scattered about the lawn need not be raked. They will decompose when the weather gets a little warmer and provide nutrients for the lawn.
Cut back shrubs like potentilla and spirea to about 8 – 12 inches. Thin other multi-stemmed shrubs by cutting out up to 1/3 of the oldest branches at ground level. Cut down any perennials or ornamental grasses that were kept for winter interest. Prune roses after all danger of hard frost is past.
Cut raspberry canes back by about 1/3 so they do not become top heavy when they bear fruit.
Fertilize around daffodils and tulips when they are actively growing by scratching bonemeal into the soil.
If you covered your roses with styrofoam cones over the winter, remove the cones before the days get too warm. It can get very warm inside the cones and you don’t want to cook your roses.
At the beginning of the month, plant seeds indoors that will be transplanted outdoors in about six to eight weeks. These include things like tomatoes, peppers, and annual flowers. At the end of the month, start seeds of cucumbers, cantaloupe, summer and winter squash and watermelon indoors. These must be started in individual containers so they can be transplanted without disturbing the roots.
As soon as your soil can be worked, vegetables like peas, kohlrabi, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, lettuce, onions, radishes and spinach can be planted outdoors. If your soil is big clumps of wet clay, don’t try planting yet; the seeds will just rot. Wait a few weeks until the soil dries out. This fall you may want to consider installing a few raised beds so that next year you can get an earlier start on planting.
The next item on the April to-do list may be the most important of all. Start stretching and doing exercises to strengthen your lower back. If you don’t know what exercises to do, your doctor or chiropractor probably has a simple hand-out sheet to help you get started. Getting stronger physically will help ensure that gardening will be a pleasant and productive activity throughout the season.
Finally, take a few moments to enjoy the warm spring air and sweet sound of bird song. Sit on your lawn chair and dream a little before the real work starts.
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