April Garden Calendar

Fertilizing

• Fertilize azaleas after they bloom
• Fertilize annuals, shrubs, and trees that were not fertilized in the fall

Plants in Flower

• Dogwood, flowering cherry, viburnum, Carolina rhododendron, piedmont azaleas, exbury azaleas, spirea, redbud, crab apple, weigela, wisteria, periwinkle, ajuga, candytuft, violets, columbine, trillium, dwarf iris, bloodroot, bleeding heart, anemone, scilla squill, Carolina silverbell, sweet shrub, banks rose, pearlbush, lilac, pieris, Easter rose (kerria) and drooping leucothoe.

Planting

• Plant summer bulbs
• The average last spring frost date in Catawba County is April 8, +/- 11 days.  The average range is March 29 to April 19.  After last frost, plant herbs and warm-season vegetables.
• The following warm-weather vegetable can be planted this month:  green beans, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, sweet potatoes, melons, swiss chard, beets, cantaloupe, and corn.
• Replace cool-season annuals, such as pansies with summer annuals.
• Plant perennial seeds, such as hollyhock, coreopsis, daisy, phlox and Sweet William.
• Plant small fruit plans, such as strawberry, blueberry and blackberry.

Pruning

• Cut back butterfly bushes to approximately 30”
• Cut back ornamental grasses close to the ground
• Prune azaleas after they bloom
• Pinch chrysanthemums to promote later bloom

Spraying

• Spray insect oil on fruit trees
• Check azaleas, rhododendron and pyrachanta for lace bugs.  Treat with an insecticide if necessary.
• Spray roses before buds open.
• Begin spraying to control poison ivy, honeysuckle and kudzu with a recommended herbicide.

Propagation

• Divide perennials such as daylilies and hostas 

Specific Chores

• Perform mower maintenance
• Re-mulch beds
• Clean out water gardens

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