Here are the things to do for your garden in April! Taken from the Ontario Master Gardener Calendar by John Hethrington, Past President, Master Gardeners of Ontario. Please contact John for more information, or to purchase a copy of the calendar of the full year’s tips.
April 2021
Things to do for your garden in April:
- Cut down perennials and grasses. Put the cuttings on your compost.
- Remove any weeds and add them to this year’s compost pile.
- Prepare garden beds for planting by digging-in compost, well-rotted manure (if you can find some) and other organic material around each of your plants.
- Remove rose protection, prune and apply dormant spray before the buds break.
- Start planting trees, shrubs, perennials and biennials as soon as the soil warms up and the snow stops.
- Plant seeds of cool weather vegetables such as peas, spinach, lettuce, onions, beets and frost resistant annuals like larkspur, sweet peas and calendulas outside.
- Once the lawn has dried and no longer shows your footprint, rake to remove winter thatch, repair any damage and sow grass seed on bare spots.
- Consider aerating your lawn if it is old and compacted.
- Fertilize your lawn with slow-release fertilizer. It’s more expensive, but worth it for a greener lawn all summer long.
- Apply pre-emergence crabgrass herbicide, if required, to stop last year’s seeds from sprouting this year.
- Check your lawn mower and other power tools to make sure they start and the mower is sharp.
- Start lawn mowing only when needed.
- Organize your compost pile. Move uncomposted material from last year’s pile and start a new pile with it. Use last year’s compost on all your beds.
Beaver Valley Probus Club