April in the Garden

Pick your month

April

Mid autumn…

While some parts of the country may be experiencing an “Indian summer” this month, there’s a definite chill in the air in the cooler, southern region of the continent. Crisp nights, foggy mornings and even a frost or two are good indications that, for most of us, winter is not far away. Even in the tropical north, the humidity has receded.

Gardening In April

Potatoes

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) are tubers that grow and form at the plant’s roots. Plants also produce flowering shoots...

Peas

Nothing beats home-grown peas for their tenderness and taste. That's because when they’re picked, their sugars start to...

Onions

The basis of so many delicious dishes, onions (Allium cepa) are an essential ingredient in every cook’s store cupboard...

Garlic

Growing garlic ( Allium sativum) at home is now very popular. It's an easy vegetable to grow - just plant a garlic clove...

Blueberries

Eaten fresh, baked in muffins or as the star attraction in jams or desserts, blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) are...

Strawberries

Who doesn’t love strawberries? If you’re a strawberry fan, there are many varieties easy to grow at home, allowing you...

Apple

Apple trees love a garden with cool winters, but if you choose the right variety (with ‘low chill’ requirements), you...

Choko

Chokos are an old-fashioned crop that’s making a comeback! Once upon a time, these vigorous vines covered pergolas...

Orchids

Orchids are a great addition to any home, with their exotic, delicate and diverse flowers and their beautiful shapes and...

Allium

Alliums belong to the same family as onions, garlic and leeks, as you can tell from the aroma when you crush the foliage...

Roses

Roses are among our favourite garden plants – and deservedly so. They are versatile, produce vibrant colour through...

Sweet peas

The sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) is an incredibly popular flowering climbing plant that produces masses of flowers from...

Buffalo Grass

A popular stalwart in Australian gardens for good reason, buffalo grass makes for an incredibly resilient lawn. It is...

Kikuyu Grass

Kikuya grass, or Pennisetum Clandestinum, is a vigorous plant often used in Australian lawns and common in public...

Bromeliads

Bromeliads ( Bromeliaceae) are a diverse group of plants with a very tropical vibe. With over 3000 different species in...

Almond Tree

Almonds (Prunus amygdalus) are the edible nuts produced inside the hard-fleshed velvety fruit, that grows on a tree that...

Bougainvillea

Bougainvilleas put on a showy display of vibrant colour throughout summer. These vigorous vines are drought tolerant and...

Magnolia

Magnolia's magnificent blooms arrive at the end of winter, announcing that spring isn’t far away. On deciduous magnolias...

What to harvest now:

There’s not a lot to harvest from the veggie patch now, although some new plantings of salad greens may be almost ready.

The last of the pumpkins may still be clinging to their vines and there may still be some green tomatoes on late fruiting varieties. These should all be picked now and the plants removed. The tomatoes won’t ripen this late in the season, so turn them into pickles.
Lettuce, rocket, silver beet, spinach and rhubarb planted last month may have some tender young leaves ready to pick later in April.

What to plant now:

Seedlings of winter veggies can continue this month. Your crops will get a good start before colder weather slows down growth.

In temperate to cool temperate areas, plant seedlings of:

Silverbeet
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Chinese cabbage
Kale (including Tuscan kale or cavallo nero)
Carrot
Leek
Parsnip
Spinach
Spring onion
Turnip

In warm regions, sow seeds or plant seedlings of:

Veggie patch tips for April:

Keep new plantings growing strongly with applications of liquid fertiliser for vegetables and herbs such as Osmocote Boost+Feed Vegetables, Tomatoes & Herbs or a certified organic fertiliser every two to three weeks.
Water deeply at least once a week if the weather is dry – add a wetting agent to ensure moisture penetrates deep into the soil.
Hand pull or hoe out weeds as they appear – they compete for nutrients and moisture and may also harbour pests that could attack your crops.
Use snail and slug traps or baits to protect young seedlings.

Fruit

What fruits to harvest now:

There may still be some crops of late season fruits maturing. These include:

What fruit to plant:

Evergreen fruiting plants such as passionfruit vines and citrus may still be put in while the soil is still warm. It’s still too early for and new bare-root fruit trees. They are best planted in mid to late winter.

Flowers & Bulbs

What flowers to plant:

Spring flowering bulbs:

Anemone
Daffodil
Freesia
Hyacinth
Iris
Ixia
Lachenalia
Muscari (grape hyacinth)
Narcissus
Ranunculus
Sparaxis
Scilla
Sprekelia
Tritonia
Tritelia
Tulip
Watsonia

Winter and spring flowering annual seedlings:

Arctotis
Alyssum
Antirrhinum (snapdragon)
Aquilegia (granny’s bonnet)
Calendula
Canterbury bells (campanula)
Carnation
Cineraria
Delphinium
Gaillardia
Geum
Gypsophila
Iceland poppy
Larkspur
Nemesia
Nigella
Pansy
Polyanthus
Primula
Scabiosa
Sweet William
Verbena
Viola

Lawn

Maintenance tips for your Lawn:

In southern regions, this month is your last chance to patch or rejuvenate a tired lawn or install new turf before the weather becomes too cool. It’s already too late to sow a new lawn from scratch. Although the seed may germinate well, there’s not enough time for the grass to become well established and thicken up before winter.

In the warmer north of the country, new lawns may be started from seed or turf rolls. A reminder of the autumn lawn maintenance program we recommend:

De-thatch with a garden rake to remove build-up of dead grass, especially in buffalo, kikuyu and couch lawns.
Aerate the lawn with a garden fork or hire a coring machine suitable for home gardens.
Top dress with Scotts Lawn Builder Organic Lawn Soil – Topdress Mix & Underlay.
Water entire lawn area, if permitted, to settle topdress mix.
Fertilise with Lawn Builder All Purpose Slow Release Lawn Fertiliser, Lawn Builder Buffalo, Lawn Builder Extreme Green Granular or one of the Lawn Builder hose-on equivalents.
Worn and bare areas may be patched with instant turf.

Garden Tasks

Things to look out for and do during the month:

Continue checking for fallen and/or diseased fruits. Good garden hygiene helps present disease and pest carry-over to the next growing season. Dispose of them in the household rubbish – do not put them in the compost bin!
Cut out and dispose of galls (swellings) on citrus trees to help eradicate gall wasps.
Check the ties on dahlias and chrysanthemums to ensure they are not cutting into stems.
Carefully lift gladioli corms, let them air dry for a few days, then spread in a single layer in a tray. Store in a cool, dry place until next planting time.

Pest Control:

Keep an eye out for aphids and other insect pests, especially on herbs and vegetable and flower seedlings. Use a general garden insecticide like Defender Pyrethrum Insect Spray to control them. Don’t forget to spray the undersides of leaves too.
Watch for the caterpillars of the White Cabbage Butterfly on cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and other brassicas. Pyrethrum will assist or try a cabbage dust.
Newly planted seedlings may be targeted by snails and slugs. Protect them with Defender Snail & Slug Pellets.