Gardening Guides
Texas Gardener's April Checklist
Get your sowing and planting on — spring brings a tantalizing array of possibilities in the garden
Is there anything you can't do in the Texas garden in April? This is a pivotal month for planting, sowing seeds, fertilizing and performing important garden maintenance chores. With so much to do, it's easy to get overwhelmed, but simply take it a step at a time to ensure your garden is healthy, lush and beautiful. And keep one eye on the thermometer — while we're less likely to have a late-season frost at this point, it's not impossible, so be sure to cover up tender seedlings or new transplants if temperatures dip.
Vegetables. Lots of vegetable seeds can be sown: lima beans, snap beans, beets, chard, okra, radishes and summer squash. Wait until late April to sow seeds for corn, cucumbers, eggplant and pumpkin.
Plant Your Garden
You can plant nearly anything this month.
Vegetables. Eggplant, peppers, summer squash, tomatoes, tomatillos and sweet potato slips can be planted from 4- to 6-inch containers.
Fruit. Cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon are good options; look for them in 4-inch pots.
Herbs. Nearly all herbs can be planted, including rosemary, chives, thyme, oregano, lavender, sorrel, catmint, sage, lemongrass, lemon verbena, basil, catnip, bay laurel and tarragon. Plant from 4-inch containers from the nursery.
You can plant nearly anything this month.
Vegetables. Eggplant, peppers, summer squash, tomatoes, tomatillos and sweet potato slips can be planted from 4- to 6-inch containers.
Fruit. Cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon are good options; look for them in 4-inch pots.
Herbs. Nearly all herbs can be planted, including rosemary, chives, thyme, oregano, lavender, sorrel, catmint, sage, lemongrass, lemon verbena, basil, catnip, bay laurel and tarragon. Plant from 4-inch containers from the nursery.
Bulbs. Caladium, elephant's ear and lily bulbs can be planted now, but be sure to plant them at the proper depth. A good rule of thumb is to plant two to three times deeper than the bulb is tall.
Annuals. Plant ageratum, geranium, impatiens, marigold, pentas, periwinkle, phlox, coleus and torenia. Look for 4-inch containers or six-packs for quick growth.
Annuals. Plant ageratum, geranium, impatiens, marigold, pentas, periwinkle, phlox, coleus and torenia. Look for 4-inch containers or six-packs for quick growth.
Perennials. Coneflower, shasta daisy, four-nerve daisy, lantana, salvia and yarrow can be planted this month. Look for 1-gallon pots for faster growth and spread.
Ornamental grasses. Maiden grass, bamboo muhly, big muhly, pink muhly, inland sea oats, Mexican feather grass, switchgrass and purple fountain grass are great grasses to try. Choose grasses in 1- to 5-gallon containers.
Note: Some grasses, like Mexican feather grass, can be invasive. Be sure your plant choices are appropriate and recommended for your area.
Ornamental grasses. Maiden grass, bamboo muhly, big muhly, pink muhly, inland sea oats, Mexican feather grass, switchgrass and purple fountain grass are great grasses to try. Choose grasses in 1- to 5-gallon containers.
Note: Some grasses, like Mexican feather grass, can be invasive. Be sure your plant choices are appropriate and recommended for your area.
Trees and shrubs. It's generally a good idea to plant these larger landscape plants in the cooler months, but you can plant them now if you take a little extra care.
Be sure to prepare the area thoroughly before sowing grass seed — follow the directions on the package — and keep it moist until the seed has sprouted.
If you want to add sod for a more instant lawn, look for pieces of St. Augustine or zoysia, both of which are somewhat tolerant of light shade. Always follow turfgrass recommendations from experts in your area, such as a trusted nursery or your county extension office, when making grass selections.
- Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball of the plant, then add a little bonemeal or rock phosphate to the hole. (Follow the package directions for amounts.)
- Plant and water in thoroughly.
- Spray some liquid seaweed over the planting area for added nutrients.
- Irrigate regularly during the first growing season (two to three times a week).
Be sure to prepare the area thoroughly before sowing grass seed — follow the directions on the package — and keep it moist until the seed has sprouted.
If you want to add sod for a more instant lawn, look for pieces of St. Augustine or zoysia, both of which are somewhat tolerant of light shade. Always follow turfgrass recommendations from experts in your area, such as a trusted nursery or your county extension office, when making grass selections.
Stay on Top of Garden Maintenance
If you continue with regular maintenance chores this month, your garden will thrive throughout the hotter summer months. And if the forecast is right, it's going to be another hot and dry season.
Weed. Hand pick stray weeds before they go to seed or spread, but be sure to pull them out by the roots rather than breaking them off at the soil surface.
Use chemical weed controls only when needed, depending upon the severity of your weed problem. There are many organic options available that are kinder to the surrounding environment, but use caution when applying a solution of any kind — those that are labeled "nonselective herbicides," whether they are organic or not, will kill any plant that they are sprayed on.
Fertilize. Spray a seaweed solution on your bedding plants once a week for lush growth and blooming. Fertilize established trees, shrubs and other plants with a balanced fertilizer, and go light on fertilizing newly planted transplants.
Fertilize your lawn with a low-nitrogen fertilizer and water it in thoroughly. Use a water-soluble fertilizer for container plants and houseplants. Always follow the package directions, as overfertilizing can actually harm your plants.
If you continue with regular maintenance chores this month, your garden will thrive throughout the hotter summer months. And if the forecast is right, it's going to be another hot and dry season.
Weed. Hand pick stray weeds before they go to seed or spread, but be sure to pull them out by the roots rather than breaking them off at the soil surface.
Use chemical weed controls only when needed, depending upon the severity of your weed problem. There are many organic options available that are kinder to the surrounding environment, but use caution when applying a solution of any kind — those that are labeled "nonselective herbicides," whether they are organic or not, will kill any plant that they are sprayed on.
Fertilize. Spray a seaweed solution on your bedding plants once a week for lush growth and blooming. Fertilize established trees, shrubs and other plants with a balanced fertilizer, and go light on fertilizing newly planted transplants.
Fertilize your lawn with a low-nitrogen fertilizer and water it in thoroughly. Use a water-soluble fertilizer for container plants and houseplants. Always follow the package directions, as overfertilizing can actually harm your plants.
Bugs. Be on the lookout for detrimental bugs, such as aphids, tomato hornworms, leaf rollers and spring cankerworms. Remember that not all bugs are bad — ladybugs feed on unwanted pests and should be protected and encouraged to set up house.
Identify your problem pest first by taking a sample to a local nursery, and then make your treatment selection from there. Always follow package directions when using any pesticide or chemical to avoid harming beneficial insects.
Compost. Add 1 or 2 inches of compost to bare soil areas to amend the soil, and then lightly work it into your topsoil. I like to use a garden fork to loosen the area up to incorporate the compost, then rake it smooth with a hard rake and add mulch.
Identify your problem pest first by taking a sample to a local nursery, and then make your treatment selection from there. Always follow package directions when using any pesticide or chemical to avoid harming beneficial insects.
Compost. Add 1 or 2 inches of compost to bare soil areas to amend the soil, and then lightly work it into your topsoil. I like to use a garden fork to loosen the area up to incorporate the compost, then rake it smooth with a hard rake and add mulch.
Mulch. A 3-inch layer of mulch around all plantings will maintain soil moisture and deter weeds. In Texas use a Texas native hardwood mulch, which is shredded and resists moving during a hard rain. Mulches such as bark chips or nuggets have a tendency to wash away, leaving the soil bare and creating a maintenance issue.
Irrigate. New plantings need regular irrigation to establish deep roots. Try to water toward the base of the plant rather than on the plant's leaves (which could create fungal problems); water more deeply and less often, and always follow any watering guidelines that exist in your area.
More regional gardening guides
Irrigate. New plantings need regular irrigation to establish deep roots. Try to water toward the base of the plant rather than on the plant's leaves (which could create fungal problems); water more deeply and less often, and always follow any watering guidelines that exist in your area.
More regional gardening guides
Almost any plant easily grown from seed can be sown this month. Be sure to check the planting directions on the backs of the seed packets to know the proper planting depth for each seed type.
Annuals. Opt for celosia, coleus, periwinkle, sunflower, zinnia, gomphrena, ageratum and cleome.
Herbs. Most herbs can be sown this month, including chives, catmint, basil, thyme, oregano, sorrel, tansy, winter savory, summer savory, yarrow, tarragon, germander, lavender, cumin, comfrey, sage and rosemary.