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A. April is the month of gardening! Time to get things planted and growing. Ensure success by spending a dollar to improve the soil before spending a dollar (or ten) on plants.

Improve and nourish your soil with compost and other organic amendments. Pick the varieties of veggies that grow well here, (check with the Travis County Extension Service at (512) 854-9600 for varieties recommended that grow well in Central Texas). Many heirlooms such as Brandywine tomatoes simply will not bear fruit before the long hot summer kicks in. Look for short season plants for best results.

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Cedar Sage (Salvia roemeriana), a Texas native perennial, is a great plant to introduce a bit of color into deep shady areas. Also grows in part shade. Pairs well with Columbines. The tubular red bloom spikes are hummingbird magnets. Hardy, may freeze to ground but comes back year after year and reseeds freely.

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• Time to replenish mulch and make less work for yourself later since mulch helps suppress weeds and helps the soil maintain a more even moisture level.
• Plant everything now! Get in those vegetables & flowers for maximum growth. Use a dilute fertilizer solution to get them off to a great start, perhaps a seaweed & kelp formula.
• Time to fill containers with flowers. They add great color with little effort. Set at various levels and enjoy the wonderful effect.

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