April is the gardener's marathon. Every week brings new planting windows, and the difference between a good season and a great one often comes down to what you do this month.
April is the most action-packed month in the garden calendar. Cool-season transplants (broccoli, cabbage, kale) go into the ground early in the month, while warm-season seeds (beans, squash, cucumbers) are started indoors or sown directly after mid-April in many zones. Perennials are growing fast and benefit from early staking before they flop. Spring-flowering bulbs peak now, and this is the window to take mental notes on where gaps exist for fall bulb planting. Weed pressure increases dramatically — staying on top of it now saves exponential effort later. Lawns can be overseeded and fertilized as soil temperatures stabilize above 55°F.
Transplant broccoli, cabbage, kale, and cauliflower starts into the garden with cutworm collars
Direct-sow beans, squash, and cucumbers after soil reaches 60°F (or start indoors if too cool)
Stake peonies, tall delphiniums, and other floppy perennials before they reach 12 inches
Weed beds thoroughly while soil is moist — pulling now prevents thousands of seeds later
Photograph your spring bulb display from several angles now — use these images in fall when deciding where to add more bulbs
Install edging between lawn and garden beds while both are actively growing to establish a clean visual line
Group container pots in odd numbers near entryways and seating areas for the strongest visual impact
Часто задаваемые вопросы
01 What should I plant in April?
Transplant cool-season crops (broccoli, cabbage, kale) early in the month. Direct-sow beans, squash, and cucumbers after mid-April when soil warms. Plant perennials, bare-root strawberries, and herbs. Start hardening off tomato and pepper seedlings for late-April or May transplanting.
02 Can I plant tomatoes outside in April?
In USDA zones 7 and warmer, late April tomato planting is often safe. In zones 5–6, wait until mid-May unless you use wall-o-water cloches or row covers. Soil should be consistently above 60°F and all frost risk should be past.
03 How often should I water new plantings in April?
Water new transplants deeply every 2–3 days for the first two weeks, then transition to deep weekly watering. Spring rain often handles much of this, but check soil moisture at finger depth — if the top inch is dry, water. Newly seeded areas need light daily watering to keep the surface moist.