APRIL A month for gardeners that will still be quite different from one climate to the next. In Spring the weather controls how you tackle your Spring gardening calendar. Gardeners in warmer climates have already begun Spring tasks, and are possibly on their way to planting annuals and new perennials, as well as sowing seeds outdoors, while gardeners in cooler climates might still be waiting for the snow to melt. For most gardeners, the months of February, March and April are filled with starting and caring for seeds indoors with great anticipation!     ALWAYS let the weather be your guide, and use this garden calendar as a simple reminder as to what needs to be done in your garden this month. SOIL -  If needed; and haven't already done so, this is a good time to do a Soil Test to find out the soil's pH in your garden beds. Try to test every couple of years to see if there is a change in the soil's pH. Make adjustments necessary to improve the quality of the soil by following the soil test recommendations. -  As soon as the soil is workable, loosen soil and weed gardens. Then feed the garden with organic fertilizer such as garden compost (composted humus), and leaf mould, or an artificial fertilizer. Northern zones might not get started till May. -By now gardeners in warmer climates may have already prepared the soil, and are enjoying the start of early summer. ANNUALS / BEDDING PLANTS -  Continue to purchase seed packets of Annuals when they become available.   -Start seeds of tender annuals indoor if you haven't already done so. -May have already started seeds indoors in February or March. If so, continue caring for annual seedlings. -In warmer climates start hardening off annuals started from seed indoors to prepare for transplanting to the outdoors. Transplant when there is no more risk of frost and the evenings are no longer cold. -For warmer climates sow hardy annuals directly outdoors. Depending on your climate this might not be possible till May.     - In cooler climates continue to prepare a list of bedding plants. Buy selection when bedding plants become available to purchase. PERENNIALS - Continue to care for seeds of Perennials started indoors. For colder climates, if you haven't started seeds of perennials indoors; start now. May have started in February or March. -In warmer climates start hardening off any perennials started from seed indoors to prepare for transplanting to the outdoors. Transplant when there is no more risk of frost and the evenings are no longer cold. - Plant bare root perennials if possible. -As weather permits remove winter mulch that hasn't been removed yet, remove mulch from perennials GRADUALLY. - As growth starts, feed your perennials with a fertilizer; following instructions provided. - When weather permits, and a chance of frost has past, dig and divide any perennials that have become crowded. - Stake perennials that will need it while they are small. BULBS - In warmer climates remove mulch from bulb beds GRADUALLY. - After spring bulbs have flowered, feed them a bulb fertilizer or bone meal. -Warm climates can remove faded flowers from spring flowering bulbs. HERBS - Start seeds of Herbs indoors. May have already started in February or March. -In warmer climates start hardening off any herbs started from seed indoors to prepare for transplanting to the outdoors. Transplant when there is no more risk of frost and the evenings are no longer cold. Colder climates may have to wait till May to transplant. CLIMBERS - Prune any damage from perennial vines.    - When risk of frost has past plant annual and perennial vine seeds. -In warmer climates start to train climbers by tying now. TREES / SHRUBS -  If you haven't already done so prune diseased branches of trees and shrubs. Do pruning on a warmer day.       - After spring flowering shrubs bloom and flowers have died off, and thin branches out if needed. - Take cuttings from shrubs if wanting to grow more in different locations.   - If weather permits, plant new trees and shrubs. Plant bareroot trees or shrubs. - Weather permitting transplant trees and shrubs. - Fertilize new growing shrubs and trees. CONTAINERS - In warmer climates fill containers with bedding plants, and other plant selections from annuals, perennials, herbs or vegetables. - In cooler climates bedding plants might not be available until after the risk of frost has past. So use this extra time to finish planning the plant combinations for the containers you intend to fill. VEGETABLES - If you have started already; start seeds of tender vegetable indoors. May have already started in February or March. -In warmer climates start hardening off any vegetables started from seed indoors to prepare for transplanting to the outdoors. Transplant when there is no more risk of frost and the evenings are no longer cold. - Finalize plans for the vegetable garden. Till up garden soil when workable, adding organic mulch as needed. - Depending on your regions frost dates and weather permitting; for warmer climates sow hardy vegetables outdoors if you haven't already done so. - In warmer climates plant Asparagus crowns. FRUITS -Select and plant a small fruit tree suitable for your climate. Something small so not to overpower the garden but to add interest and beauty to your gardens. -Prune fruit trees if they haven't leafed out yet. LAWNS - Repair lawn damage. - Sow grass seed for new lawns and for needed areas in existing lawns. Depending on your climate you might have done so already, or in cooler climates this might not be done until May.    - Lawn may be raked, aerated, and mowed. GARDENING FUN - Enter a contest at Flower Garden News today! Click here for contest details.   - Use these free printable photos for your own personal use. Use in crafts, framed pictures, journaling, decoupage, scrapbooking, and for screen savers or backgrounds for your own computer, and more.   GARDEN JOURNALING - Don't forget to take a before picture of your yard or gardens. Put photos in your garden journal. It is a great way to keep records to see how much your garden has grown and changed. - Keep those seed packets and plant tags in your garden journals for future reference. Great source of plant care information. MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS - Have a look around to see what is in need of repair. Check arbors, trellises, fences, stakes, walkways, planters, and anything else you may have in your garden and yards. GARDEN TOOLS - If you haven't already done so, retrieve any tools you have sent out for repairs. Set the lawnmower blade back to summer cutting height.   I hope you have found a reminder that was useful for you and your garden. Happy planting! Click here to go back to the month by month garden calendar.

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