It’s not too early to work the spring soil. Here are some tips for a flourishing April garden.
Expert tips on perennials, trees and shrubs, lawns, and more from David Epstein.
April is underway and with it begins the gardening season. Whether you have a couple of containers on your deck or multiple gardens of perennials, vegetables, and annuals, this is a great month to get things started. I started gardening when I was in fourth grade, and it’s been a lifelong passion ever since.
Whether you’ve been doing it all your life or this is your first season working in the soil, growing is an amazing experience. I am grounded by this experience, and it brings a level of tranquility and connection unlike anything else I do. Here are a few of my thoughts on April gardening. I’d love to hear in the comment section what you are working on this season!
Vegetables
It’s not too late to start your warm-weather crops inside. For example, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants can still be started, although the plants may be a bit small when they’re ready to go out later in May. Use a grow light and a good starter mix to ensure even and non-leggy plants.
If you want to put things straight in the ground from seed, peas, carrots, radishes, Asian greens, turnips, beets, and fava beans can all be planted right now. If temperatures look like they’re going to go under 28 degrees, you can always throw a sheet over the seed area for a night or two. You’ll also find lettuce and other cold, hardy crops already out in the garden centers. Those can go directly in the ground.
Annuals
It’s too early for your warm-weather annuals, such as geraniums or impatiens, but pansies, primula, and some violets will take a freeze. Dianthus calendula and snapdragon can be put out as long as the temperature looks like it’s not going to go under 30.
Perennials
This is a great month to divide perennials. Anything that flowers from mid-June onward can be divided now. This also includes hosta and fern, which will benefit from some dividing. I’ve even moved plants this time of the year that flower in May, and as long as there’s adequate water, they don’t seem to miss a beat.
Trees and shrubs
Inevitably, I need to move some of my trees and shrubs around, especially newer ones that may not have been placed correctly. April is a perfect time to pick things up and put them in a new place. There’s adequate moisture in the ground and plenty of time for the roots to form. Once things leaf out, it gets a lot harder to move them without some shock, and the risk of dying goes way up.
Lawns
Over the past couple of decades, I’ve taken out over 50 percent of my lawn and replaced it with perennials or other ground covers. Nevertheless, I do have some grass, and this is a good time to put down spring fertilizers. Try to be organic with whatever you do. Many of the harsher chemicals are terrible for the environment. A thick, adequately watered lawn will not succumb to the crabgrass later in the summer.
If you have to use pre-emergents, follow the directions and use them sparingly. Starting a lawn in the spring is not advisable; wait until the fall to do that. You could overseed later this month on an existing lawn to thicken it up.
Soil health
It’s always a good idea to get your soil tested if you’re not sure what you need. I also know that many of you are going to put down fertilizer without testing. A general all-purpose organic fertilizer with slow-release nitrogen is best. Try to work it into the top 4 inches of the soil and put it down before the mulch.
If you have containers where you’re growing flowers or vegetables, you can recharge that soil with some organic compost or simply add organic fertilizer at the recommended rate. If your soil’s been in a container for several years, I recommend starting over and evenly spreading the soil in the garden or over the lawn. It’ll work itself in overtime.
Every gardening season is different, and the challenges ahead can be anything from a late cold snap to too much rain to too little, but gardening season is here, and it’s time to get out there.
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