April is the month for planting summer flowering bulbs. Dahlias, gladiolas, tuberous begonias, canna lilies and hybrid lilies can be planted in April. Purchase and plant these bulbs now as nursery and garden centers will be sold out by May! Mix bulb fertilizer and organic matter, such as mushroom compost, into the planting soil. Tuberous Begonias and Canna should not be set outdoors until all danger of frost has passed, so wait until next month.
Plant annual flower seeds. Asters, cosmos, marigolds, zinnias and other annual flowers can be planted now in tilled garden beds.
Deadhead spring flowering bulbs. When they have finished blooming, you should deadhead your spring flowering bulbs. Do not cut off the green foliage yet! These green leaves continue to grow for a few weeks, and provide the bulb with food for flowering next year.
Divide perennials. As they emerge from dormancy, you can divide perennials like Daylilies, Delphiniums, iris, chrysanthemums, Daisies, and Phlox. The additional plants you create can be traded or given to friends, or moved to a new area of the garden.
Pond plants. If you have a garden pond, you can begin to set aquatic plants any time after the middle of the month.
Weed control in the vegetable garden. Stay on top of weeds sprouting in the vegetable garden. You control weeds in the garden many ways: aerate the soil by cultivating between the rows of plants, apply a layer of wheat straw, use a new organic weed killer on the market for use in vegetable gardens called Avenger Organic which kills weeds to the roots in 45 minutes, or pull them by hand. SEE: How To Control Weeds In The Vegetable Garden
Plant fruit trees and plants. April is a great time to select and plant fruit trees and berry plants. Fruits and berries do best when planted in full sun.
Houseplant care. Rotate your houseplants to allow each side of the plant to receive an equal amount of light. So your houseplants can breathe better, use a spray bottle and a cloth to clean the dust off of the leaves. deadhead spent flowers and remove all dead or yellowing leaves and branches. Pinching back the tips of foliage plants will stimulate new growth. SEE: How To Prune Houseplants
You may also be interested in:
- How To Plant A Flower Bed
- How To Plant Perennial Plants
- May Landscape Garden Tips for Zone 8
- Theme Gardens For Kids
Meet The Author
Brent Wilson - Brent Wilson is one of the co-founders of Gardenality. He is a fanatic gardener with a special interest in perennials and native plants.
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