Things To Do In April:

Fertilize:
Tomatoes and peppers should be fed with a liquid fertilizer. Feed crape myrtle beneath the branch spread with 1/3 cup complete fertilizer per sq. yd. After second mowing, fertilize lawn with 3-1-2 ratio product; aerate first, if needed. Fertilize all houseplants with complete fertilizer.

Mulch trees, shrubs, vegetable garden and flower beds (after soil has warmed) with 2-4 inches of mulch. Pine needles and oak leaves make a good mulch for acid-loving plants. Spread coffee grounds around azaleas and other acid-loving plants.

Water:
Water as needed.

Transplant:
Divide and transplant late summer-and fall-flowering bulbs. Container-grown plants (almost any kind) can go into the ground now. Plant summer annuals to get their root systems established before the extreme heat arrives.

Lawn Care:
Plant grass sod or plugs. Water daily for one or two weeks to establish. Begin regular lawn care. Mow every 5-7 days, leaving the clippings on the lawn. Keep St. Augustine grass at 2-1/2 to 3 inches.

Things To Plant In April:

Flower Plants:

Ageratum Ajuga Joseph’s Coat (Amaranthus) Balsam Wax Begonia Blue Daze Blue Cardinal Flower Boltonia Scarlet Bouvardia Calico Plant Chocolate Plant Cigar Plant (Cuphea Ignea) Cockscomb Coleus Columbine Coneflower (Echinacea) Copper Plant Coreopsis Cosmos sulphureus Dahlia Shasta Daisy Feverfew Geranium Gomphrena Hibiscus Hollyhock Impatiens Jacobinia Lantana Marigold (African, French and Mexican Mint) Nierembergia Penta Periwinkle Persian Shield Plumbago Phlox drummondii Portulaca Purslane Rudbeckia hirta Salvia Sedum Stokes’ Aster Sunflower (Helianthus) Wishbone Flower (Torenia) Yarrow Zinnia

Plumbago   Perennial Hibiscus

Flower Seeds:

• Ageratum
• Balsam
• Castor Bean
• Celosia
• Cleome
• Cockscomb
• Coleus
• Coral Vine
• Cosmos
• Cypress Vine
• Dahlia (Dwarf)
• Coneflower (Echinacea)
• Feverfew
• Four-o’clock
• Globe Amaranth
• Gourd
• Impatiens
• Linaria
• Nasturtium
• Marigold
• Moonflower
• Morning Glory
• Periwinkle
• Petunia
• Pinks
• Portulaca
• Scabiosa
• Sunflower
• Sweet Pea (Perennial)
• Tithonia
• Torenia
• Vinca
• Zinnia

Bulbs:

• Achimenes
• Acidanthera
• Allium
• Alstroemeria
• Amarcrinum
• Amaryllis
• Ground Orchid (Bletilla)
• Caladium
• Calla
• Canna
• Crinum
• Dahlia
• Daylily
• Dietes
• Ginger
• Gladiolus
• Gloriosa Daisy
• Hosta
• Spider Lily (Hymerocallis)
• Hypoxis
• Liriope
• Monkey Grass
• Rain Lily
• Society Garlic
• Tigridia

Vegetables:

• Early—Mid Month: Pepper, Radish, Squash, Tomato
• ALL Month: Amaranth, Bean, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Muskmelon, Okra, Peanuts, Pumpkin, Southern Pea, Sweet Potato, Tomatillo, Watermelon

Herbs:

• Anise
• Star Anise
• Basil
• Bay
• Borage
• Bouncing Bet
• Caraway
• Catnip
• Chives
• Comfrey
• Costmary
• Cumin
• Fennel
• Fenugreek
• Scented Geranium
• Germander
• Horehound
• Horseradish
• Lamb’s Ear
• Lavender
• Lemon Grass
• Lemon Verbena
• Mexican Mint Marigold (a great substitute for French Tarragon)
• Monarda
• Oregano
• Perilla
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Santolina
• Summer Savory
• Winter Savory
• Sesame
• Sorrel
• Southernwood
• Tansy
• Tarragon
• Thyme
• Common Wormwood
• Roman Wormwood
• Yarrow

Fruit:

• Bare root or container grown Pecans
• Fruit trees
• Grapes
• Berry bushes

Courtesy of the Garden Guide for Austin & Vicinity, published by the Travis County Master Gardener Association, copyright 2000-2002.