April Gardening in the Piedmont 

by Kathy Bretz 

Perennials, Bulbs and Vegetables

  • Prune back ornamental plants such as holly, nandina and pyracantha.
  • Plant carrots, celery, collards, lettuce, parsley, radishes and turnips now.
  • Set out warm season vegetables such as corn, cucumbers, squash and tomatoes after threat of frost is past (around mid-April in the Southern Piedmont).
  • Place a little lime in tomato planting holes to prevent blossom end rot.  Also, use a cutworm barrier such as aluminum foil or paper cups with bottoms cut out (small tomato paste cans work great).  
  • Apply bone meal or super phosphate to spring-flowering bulbs.  Top dress summer flowering bulbs with a complete fertilizer.  
  • Plant seeds or seedlings of annual vines such as morning glory, moonflower and passion flower after the danger of frost is past.
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Seeds choices for gardeners have never been so abundantly available. Read the seed pack reverse side for sowing methods, spacing, germination and thinning information. File the empty pack in your garden journal, make notes as it grows so you can recall your success or flop for next years' planting.
Soil Test Kits are available free at these locations in Mecklenburg County 
Learn more about homeowner soil tests here.
​Find out how you can test your soil - it's easier than you think!
The NCSU guide to understanding soil test results for home lawns and gardens.   
Your soil test results are emailed to you when complete.
Soil tests are No Charge from April - October. 
Lawn & Landscaping
  • Mow cool-season lawns (Tall Fescue) at least weekly, to a height of 3 inches.  
  • Check your lawn for white grubs by using a spade to turn back a square foot of sod 2 or 3 inches deep.  Dislodge the soil from the overturned roots and count the number of grubs.  If you see more than 5 in this square foot area, treatment is necessary.  

 Trees, Shrubs & Groundcovers
  • Prune early flowering trees and shrubs as soon as blooms have faded.  Prune deciduous vines like wisteria and Lady Banks roses after they finish flowering.  ​Keep roses well mulched, but keep mulch away from crown and lower stems. 
  • Fertilize fruit trees during fruit set.  Fertilize all spring flowering shrubs and vines after they bloom.  Lightly fertilize blueberries a second time when they bloom.  
  • Watch new tree growth for signs of fireblight, especially fruit trees.  Remove any affected twigs and, if bark below the dead leaves is shriveled, cut several inches below the damaged area.  Be sure to sterilize your shears afterward!  
  • Watch for insect damage on new tender growth.  Also, inspect established evergreens for signs of scale, boxwoods and hollies for leaf miner damage, azaleas and pyracanthas for signs of lace bugs.  

Indoor Gardening
  • Repot houseplants and put them outside on warmer days.  
Always more to do!  
  • Honeybees are swarming, leaving their hives and seeking new hives.  New swarms are not aggressive and should be left alone.  Swarms that haven’t found a home will be collected March – June by local beekeepers. 
 

Kathy Bretz EMGV
Kathy Bretz, EMGV
Kathy Bretz is an Extension Master Gardener Volunteer with Mecklenburg County, NC.  An active EMGV since 2003, Kathy loves to design, using color; she especially loves annuals, perennial, shrubs and junipers.  





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