Since the previous post about the first day of Spring, we’ve gotten not one, but TWO snow storms! The first brought me 20” on March 23rd – more than we had on the ground at any one time all winter! The second, about 4” on April 4th. These late storms just remind us not to do things TOO early in the garden. Mother Nature always has her way!
Despite the weather, I’ve still managed to sow some sugar snap peas and flowering sweet peas, pull a few weeds, and get my birdhouses out.
I also fell victim to the impulse buy: fragrant, old-fashioned garden roses – the ones with lots and lots of petals all crowded into a cup-like blossom. 😍 Now to find a home for those blooms!
We’re now in the “4-6 weeks before last frost” window. I completely ran out of space inside and I’m looking forward to being able to sow things outside! Outdoors, I’ll be starting:
- Milkweed
- Nigella
- Bachelor buttons
- Bells of Ireland
- Flowering sweet peas
- Cleome
- Lettuce
- Radishes
- Beets
- Carrots
This timeframe is ideal to start warm-season annuals indoors. I’ll be sowing:
- Morning glory (Hummingbirds like the Sunrise Serenade variety I’ve been growing.)
- Sweet alyssum (I let this fill in under my rose bushes.)
- Linaria (aka baby snapdragon)
- Marigolds (some tall white ones for bouquets and some short ones to tuck into the veggie garden)
To keep squirrels from stealing the seeds, I’ll also start
- Cucumbers
- Corn (if I can find a place to plant it) *Corn prefers to be direct sown.
- Delicata squash
- Yellow summer squash
- Zucchini
And, if I can find rambling room:
- Pumpkins
- Butternut squash
- Spaghetti squas.
DIY “Greenhouses”
In these final weeks when we could get a frost, I set up transition beds to harden off some of the seedlings that like the colder temperatures. To make these little igloo greenhouses, all you need are:
- a few of the biggest hula hoops from the dollar store (they have a piece that joins them together where you can pull them apart– you don’t even need to cut them!) Just stick each end into the soil.
- I then add a layer of frost cloth, which provides insulation and also helps “shade” the seedlings as they adjust to real sun. Frost cloth is available online or at some larger/specialty garden centers (not usually at the big box stores).
- Over top, I put a plastic painter’s drop cloth (get the heaviest weight they have).
- Secure it in place with a few clothespins or clips.
For information on troubleshooting with seedlings (are they leggy? Yellowing?) and on hardening them off before planting outdoors, revisit this post.
Outdoor Tasks
While you’re finally doing some outdoor planting, there are some other tasks that can be tackled in April.
- Cut back ornamental grasses as it gets warmer, trying to avoid cutting any new growth. I cut around 8” or so above the soil.
- Divide perennials (rhubarb is on my list!)
- Add fresh mulch around perennials and shrubs (or wherever you don’t plan to add annuals)
- Clean feeders, bird baths, garden decor, and patio furniture
- Prep outdoor planters and tools
- Rake the lawn once it’s dry (lightly, avoid disturbing the good bugs!)
- Sow grass seed in bare patches. Rake, add a fresh layer of topsoil, broadcast the seed, and lightly rake in.
Remember to stretch a bit and take breaks as you get out there! If you’re like me, as soon as the weather warms up, you’re immediately dashing outside, grabbing a rake or shovel, and using muscles that have been napping since last October. By the next morning, your hands might be sore and stairs and chairs might be a challenge. Warm up slowly like the weather!
Stay tuned for a “No Mow May” post with alternatives to a traditional lawn!
