Spring is here! We are so happy to see all of the flowers starting to bloom and hear the birds singing. Knowing what to plant in April is key to our gardens surviving the summer. In Visalia, spring is a beautiful season to get outside and get your gardens summer ready. As more and more of us are utilizing our outdoor spaces for entertaining and as outdoor living rooms, we are hankering to maximize our garden spaces. Here is what to plant in April to get our gardens going before the summer heat sets in.
Sow your vegetable and flower seeds
It’s still early enough in the season to sow most of your vegetables directly into the soil this month. If you are wanting to start tomatoes and peppers you should probably start them as plants unless you have a greenhouse with bottom heat. If you have trouble growing beans in your yard you can try cowpeas as they have a great taste as well. It’s important to plant your seeds in light soil, covered lightly and keep them moist. Once the seeds have at least two true leaves you can water them as needed.
The best vegetable seeds to plant are:
Spinach, Swiss Chard, Beans (pole and bush), Beets, Carrots, Melons, Sweet Corn, Cucumbers, Kohlrabi, Leaf Lettuce, Melons, Onions, Pumpkins, Herbs, Radishes, Asparagus, Popcorn, Celery, Eggplant, Mustard greens, Peanuts, Peas, Okra and Squash.
The best flower seeds to plant are:
Strawflower, Sunflower, Zinnia, Statice, Nasturtium, Lobelia, Marigold, Morning Glory, Gaillardia, Cosmos, Bells of Ireland, Amaranthus, Ageratum, Scabiosa, Carnation, Alyssum, Aster, Bacopa, Heuchera, Dahlberg daisy, Dianthus, Hibiscus moscheutos, Yarrow, Petunia, Vinca, Osteospermum, Penstemon, Hollyhock, Impatiens, Larkspur, Columbine, Echinacea, Coreopsis, and Cornflower.
You can also start your summer bulbs such as Gladiolus, Dahlia, Canna and Lilies.
Beat the heat for your ornamental plants
Ornamental plants (Roses, trees, shrubs and fruit trees) need a head start before the sun starts beating on them. If your garden could use a refresh on your basic ornamental plants, it’s best to get them planted now.
April Showers – Or not
“April showers bring May Flowers” many of us have played that line in our heads since we were young kids playing in the garden in the rain. In our area we might not always receive the April showers that our plants need, so we need to be prepared to help them to get adequate moisture to grow well. One way to do this is by applying mulch to the bare ground. Our gardens, lawns and permanent plants will thank us for this moisture conserving step.
Put some pep in your lawns step
Your sad, sulking lawn will be happy for some much needed after winter love. After feeling lonely and neglected all winter it can use some perking up. Fertilizing your lawn, and resuming mowing as needed will be the gentle hug that it needs. It’s now a good time to check to make sure your irrigation system is in good working order. Recheck your sprinklers and drip systems. The timer and coverage area should be checked to make sure they are taking care of your lawn needs. When your lawn is healthy it will outgrow weeds, but it still needs appropriate water and fertilizer.
If you have any questions regarding your landscaping needs, or are looking for those seeds and bulbs, we’ve got you covered. Come on in and we will help you find what you need to get your garden summer ready!
