Regional Gardening To-Do List
Knowing what to do in the garden in April can be confusing. Use this basic guide based on location to jump-start the growing season.
Western Region
This region covers California and Nevada, so there is a range of appropriate chores. For northern, cooler areas:
Start planting warm-season plants
Fertilize your perennials
Maintain or add mulch
In sunny, warm southern California:
Add mulch if needed
Move or plant tropical plants outside
Plant perennials outside
If you’re in zone 6 of this region, you can start planting certain vegetables like peas, spinach, carrots, beets, turnips, and potatoes.
Northwest Region
The Pacific Northwest region also has some variety, from coast to interior. Temperatures will mostly be moderate and expect rain.
Till any cover crops
Wait for soil to dry before moving transplants outdoors
Take advantage of wet soil to divide perennials
Direct sow seeds for lettuces and greens
Southwest Region
In the deserts of the Southwest, you’ll start to get some hot days, but nights will still be frosty. Be sure to continue protecting non-hardy plants overnight.
Fertilize perennials
Manage mulch
Plant warm season varieties
Northern Rockies and Plains Region
With USDA zones between 3 and 5, gardening in April for this region is still pretty chilly, but there are chores you can tackle now:
Add compost and work the soil as it warms up
Plant cold season veggies including onions, spinach, and lettuces
Dig up root vegetables from last season
Start warmer weather veggies indoors
Upper Midwest Region
The upper Midwest region has similar zones as the Plains states. In the colder areas, you can start with those chores. In the warmer areas of lower Michigan and Iowa, you can:
Divide perennials
Spring clean beds
Start hardening off seedlings you started indoors that will be transplanted soon
Manage mulch and make sure bulbs can emerge easily
Northeast Region
Expect a lot of ups and downs with northeast temperatures this time of year. Much of your garden work will depend on exactly how the weather pans out, but generally in April you can:
Start seeds indoors for later transplant
Sow seeds outside for cool season vegetables
Divide perennials
Harden off seedlings started indoors
Manage mulch and make sure bulbs can emerge easily
Ohio Valley Region
Spring comes a little earlier here than in the Northeast or upper Midwest.
Start seeding warm season veggies outside
Move transplants outdoors in the more southern areas of this region
Start thinning out any cool season veggies you already started
Mulch your cool season plants as the temperatures begin to rise
South Central Region
In Texas, Louisiana, and the rest of the central south, April means your garden is already growing pretty well.
Start planting warm weather veggies like squash, cucumbers, corn, melons
Keep mulch intact
Where already growing, thin fruit on fruit trees to get a better harvest later
Stake perennials as needed
Fertilize spent bulbs, but don’t remove foliage yet
Southeast Region
The Southeast has similar chores this time of year to the other southern states:
Start sowing seeds outdoors for warm season vegetables
Work on managing mulch
Thin fruit trees
Clean up and fertilize bulbs; remove foliage if it has started to yellow
South Florida gets some very warm weather already in April. Right now, you can begin to:
Prune flowering trees and shrubs once the blooms are spent
Start a regular watering routine
Begin a pest management plan
