Garden Notes April 2026

Written By Webmaster PMGA

In Zones 8a and 8b, April is when the growing season hits full speed. The danger of frost typically ends by early April, allowing you to move tender summer crops into the ground. 

Zone 8a Average Last Spring Frost April 1-15 / Average First Fall Frost Nov 1-15

Zone 8b Average Last Spring Frost March 15-April 1 / Average First Fall Frost Nov 15-25

ALWAYS REMEMBER:
All dates are contingent on weather. Keep a close eye on conditions and adjust as needed.

🌞 VEGETABLE GARDEN

🌱 Transplant Now (after frost danger has passed)

  • Tomatoes

  • Peppers

  • Eggplant

  • Basil

  • Tomatillos

  • Sweet potato slips (late April when soil is 65–70°F)

  • Collards and chard (heat-tolerant greens)

Weather buffer:
If nights fall below 45°F, cover with frost cloth or buckets.

Tomato Care

  • Remove leaves touching soil.

  • Stake or cage immediately.

  • Begin light sucker pruning once plants reach 12–18 inches tall.

  • Mulch once soil is warm.

🌱 Direct Sow

Soil should be 60–65°F+ for best germination.

  • Bush & pole beans

  • Sweet corn

  • Okra (wait for warm soil)

  • Cucumbers

  • Summer squash & zucchini

  • Winter squash (late April)

  • Pumpkins (late April)

  • Melons (late April)

  • Southern peas

Succession Planting

Sow corn and beans every 2 weeks through late May.

🥔 Root Crops & Tubers

Potatoes

  • Continue hilling soil or straw around stems.

  • Stop hilling once plants flower.

Sweet Potatoes

  • Plant slips when soil is consistently warm.

  • Avoid cool, wet soil to prevent rot.

🍓 FRUIT CARE & PLANTING

Plant Now

  • Blueberries

  • Blackberries

  • Raspberries

  • Strawberries

  • Grapes

  • Figs

  • Citrus (best in 8b)

April Fruit Tasks

  • Thin peaches when fruit is marble-sized.

  • Lightly shape apple and pear trees (avoid heavy pruning now).

  • Fertilize established berry bushes after bloom.

🌸 FLOWERS & ORNAMENTALS

Direct Sow Annuals

  • Zinnias

  • Sunflowers

  • Cosmos

  • Marigolds

  • Nasturtiums

  • Cleome

Plant Summer Bulbs

  • Dahlias

  • Cannas

  • Caladiums

  • Gladiolus

  • Lilies

Plant in well-drained soil after it warms.

🌺 PERENNIALS & NATIVE PLANTS

Excellent time to plant or divide:

  • Echinacea purpurea

  • Rudbeckia hirta

  • Monarda didyma

  • Gaillardia pulchella

  • Panicum virgatum

These handle heat, humidity, and summer drought well.

🐝 POLLINATOR PLANTS

Plant now for strong summer bloom:

  • Milkweed

  • Salvia

  • Lavender

  • Yarrow

  • Dill & fennel (host plants)

  • Borage

  • Coreopsis

  • Pentas (great in 8b)

Let some herbs flower — oregano, thyme, and basil are excellent nectar sources.

✂️ PRUNING & MAINTENANCE

Shrubs & Trees

  • Prune spring bloomers AFTER flowers fade.

  • Remove dead or damaged wood anytime.

  • Avoid heavy pruning during active sap flow.

Roses

  • Finish shaping early in April.

  • Begin feeding once new growth is established.

Strawberries

  • Remove runners unless expanding bed.

  • Mulch to prevent fruit rot.

🐌 PEST WATCH
(April Rains = Activity)

  • Slugs & snails (especially in wet 8b climates)

  • Aphids on new growth

  • Flea beetles on eggplant

  • Cutworms on young transplants

Hand-pick, use collars for seedlings, and encourage beneficial insects.

💧 WATER & MULCH

  • Apply 2–3 inches of mulch after soil warms.

  • Aim for ~1 inch of water per week (rain + irrigation).

  • Water deeply and less frequently to encourage strong roots.

🌡️ WEATHER CONTINGENCIES

Cool & Wet April

  • Delay okra, melons, and sweet potatoes.

  • Watch for fungal disease on tomatoes.

Hot Early Spring

  • Install drip irrigation.

  • Mulch immediately.

  • Provide afternoon shade for leafy greens.

Late Cold Snap

  • Cover tender crops overnight.

  • Avoid fertilizing until temperatures stabilize.

Webmaster PMGA https://pmgv.org
Next

Garden Notes March 2026