April Landscape, Lawn & Garden Tips - Zone 8

Don't know your zone? Find USDA Zone here

HOORAY FOR SPRING! It's April and here in the South and this means the roller coaster ride of up and down March weather is usually gone by now and warmer temperatures have set in. This means it's time to plant...anything and everything, including annual flowers and vegetable gardens. That beings said, before planting annual flowers or veggie plants make sure to check your local 10 or 15 day forecast for any temperatures below 40. If you see any temperatures below 40 wait at least another week or until forecasts show only above 40 temperatures. In April, warm season lawns are greening up and begging for food. Most early pruning has been done by now, except for spring flowering shrubs, such as Azaleas, which should be pruned after flowers have faded. If you forgot to put down weed preventers in February or March, weeds could be a problem in lawns and landscape beds this month.

Fertilization & Feeding Tips

• Fertilize warm season lawn's during April. - If new growth is emerging in your Bermuda, Centipede, St. Augustine or Zoysia lawn it's time to feed. If there is moss growing in the lawn use a moss-killer to kill it. Consult with your local nursery and garden center professional as to what type of fertilizer is best for your type of lawn. If you apply a weed & feed type fertilizer, make sure you get the right type. Centipede and St. Augustine lawns require a specialty weed and feed that contains Atrazine weed killer. If you are planning on overseeding your Centipede lawn within the next 8 weeks, do not use a weed and feed fertilizer.

TIP: Aerating the lawn will allow water and fertilizers applied to penetrate deeper into the soil promoting as deeper root system and less of a need for water during the coming summer months. Use a garden fork or aerating machine to punch holes and/or pull plugs over the surface of your lawn.

TIP: If there is heavy thatch build up, April is also a good time to thatch and aerate before fertilizing. Thatch buildup can smother your lawn and provide an environment for diseases. Remove thatch with a brisk raking, or with a de-thatching machine.

Click on your grass type for fertilization instructions: Bermuda / Centipede / St. Augustine / Zoysia

Click here to see the D-I-Y Lawn Care Programs provided by the nursery and garden center I co-manage: Wilson Bros. Nursery

• Fertilize fescue lawns in the mid to latter part of April. April is a good time for the second application of fertilizer for the year on fescue lawns. Don't wait until May because the hot weather usually rolls in at this time. Fescue grass is a cool season grass which, for the most part, goes dormant in hotter weather, meaning it won't respond well to fertilization during the hotter months of summer. SEE: How To Fertilize A Fescue Lawn

• If necessary, broadcast lime over Fescue, Bermuda, and Zoysia lawns. Lime is not a fertilizer, however, you may notice after applying it that your lawn greens up quickly. This is due to the correction of the pH, which can unlock plants roots to absorb previously applied fertilizers. If you've never applied lime to your lawn, a one-time application of 40 lbs pellitized lime per 500-1,000 sq. ft. or 1 bag of Green 'N Grow Lime lime per 5,000 sq. ft. usually corrects soil pH to a level sufficient for these grasses to thrive. Soil pH testing kits available at most local nursery and garden centers or you can buy a soil testing kit online here. Your local cooperative extension service may also provide soil testing services. Typically, the more clay and organic content in your soil, the more lime you will need to correct the pH. Sandy soils usually require less lime, if any.

• Fertilize perennial plants that are emerging from dormancy - Use a complete flower food (containing N-P-K) to fertilizer perennials that are just now starting to pop up after winter. Follow instructions for application rates and methods on package label.
  SEE: How To Fertilize Perennials

• Fertilize roses if you haven't done so within the last six weeks - Fertilize roses every 6 weeks or so or as directed on product label with a well-balanced rose fertilizer, preferably one containing a systemic insecticide. Alternatively you may feed your roses with a natural or organic plant food.
  SEE: How To Fertilize Roses

• Fertilize shrubs and trees - If you didn't fertilize shrubs and trees in March you can do so in April. Wait to fertilize spring-flowering shrubs until their flowers have started to fade. Fertilize shrubs and trees with a well-balanced shrub & tree type fertilizer or an organic plant food following application instructions on the product label.