April gardening tips: Southeast region

Does the warmth of spring turn your thoughts to gardening? If so, you’re in luck! Here are a few tips from the Old Farmer’s Almanac for April gardening in Emanuel County, which is part of the southeast region of the U.S.

This month is good for tender vegetables, such as beans, sweet corn, squash, melons, and cucumbers. Plant two or more rows of corn for better pollination.

Continue planting warm-season crops: tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and cabbage. Plant okra, too!

Mulch your garden well to preserve moisture and keep down weeds.

Ensure that your garden receives 1 inch of rain per week. Set out an empty tuna can to measure the amount of rainfall.

Watch out for insects such as aphids and use an insecticidal soap spray if needed.

Plant an herb garden. Basil, parsley, oregano, chives, sage, rosemary, and thyme are good choices.

Remove any weeds in your garden, as they compete with your plants for water and nutrients.

Plant new annuals and bedding plants, such as coleus, geraniums, impatiens, marigolds, phlox, salvia, and zinnias.

This is a great time to plant many bulbs such as: canna, caladium, blood dilly, and iris.

Divide herbaceous perennials, clumps of bulbs, and ornamental grasses if the garden looks too crowded. Replant or give away!

Remove any dead flowers from plants to encourage new growth.

Apply new mulch around your plants, shrubs, and trees if needed.

This is a great month for planting shrubs and trees.

Prune spring-flowering shrubs after they finish blooming. Fertilize azaleas, camellias, and any other shrubs that need fertilizer.

Remove any leaves from your lawn, and then fertilize it with a slow-release fertilizer.

Mow your lawn at recommended heights (St. Augustine and Bahia: 3 to 4 inches; Centipede: 1.5 to 2 inches; Dwarf St. Augustine: 2.5 inches).

Ensure that your lawn is getting enough water (1 inch per week).

Divide and repot houseplants. Fertilize if necessary.