Garden Chores by Month: April

April is here and that means it's time to start thinking about the upcoming gardening season. Whether you have a big vegetable garden or just some potted plants on your balcony, there are certain tasks that need to be done this month in order to ensure your garden is healthy and flourishing for the summer months ahead. 

For starters, pruning is an important chore for April. Trimming dead branches and stems encourages new growth, keeps the plant shape looking nice and helps control its size. Some flowers and trees can even be lightly pruned throughout the growing season.

Next, be sure to inspect all of your garden plants and beds for any weeds or insects that may have made their way in during the winter months. Remove these pests immediately as they can cause damage to your plants if left unchecked. Be sure to check under leaves, in soil cracks, etc. for any signs of bugs or disease that could potentially harm your plants.

It’s also important to start fertilizing your garden this month in preparation for summer growth spurts. Different types of plants require different types of fertilizer, so be sure to research what will work best with what you have in your garden before applying anything too heavily or not enough.

Once everything else has been taken care of it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor by planting whatever seeds or young plants you may have chosen! This can also include starting some composting or a container water feature - there are plenty of creative ways you can make your garden both beautiful and productive. 

Taking care of our gardens should be a priority all year long but there’s no better time than April to really get things going. So put on those gardening gloves, roll up those sleeves and get ready to see what blooms this season!