April Landscape Tasks

After an unseasonal cold snap in March, spring has officially started and the warmer weather is here to stay– at least for a little while. Hopefully, the cold didn’t damage your plants! Working on your yard is a great excuse to spend time outside now that the weather is nice. Here are a few things you can work on in your landscape for the month of April:

• April is a great time to divide summer perennials! Dividing the flowers helps keep your flowerbeds tidy and prevents them from getting overcrowded. Not sure how to divide perennials? We have a blog post that might come in handy! You can plant the divided perennials into another area of the landscape or gift them to others! 
• After the cold snap, you probably have some damaged plants. If you haven’t already, take time to walk around your landscape to locate freeze damaged wood. Cut the dead wood off as needed.
• Sadly, the cold snap shortened the amount of time I was able to enjoy the azaleas and camellias in my yard. They are some of my favorite springtime flowers! Once the azaleas finish blooming, prune them back to encourage growth for next year. Now is also a great time to purchase azaleas to plant in your yard!
• Consider planting milkweed to bring all the butterflies to your yard! Monarch butterflies enjoy this plant, and there are several other native plants you can add to your landscape to attract these beautiful creatures! Check them all out here in this factsheet.
• With warm weather here to stay, you can start planting colorful summer annuals! The options at the garden store this time of year can be overwhelming. Take time to plan where you want to plant annuals and be sure to take note of how much sunlight the area gets. That will make your trip to purchase plants less stressful! Extension Publication 1826, “Annuals & Perennial Flowers for Mississippi Gardens,” gives you a list of proven winners to plant! 
• Mulching is often an overlooked landscape task. There are many benefits to mulching the base of plants, like helping the soil hold moisture, regulating soil temperatures, and controlling weeds. Apply 2-3 inches of mulch to the base of plants. Check out Publication 2301, “Mulches for the Landscape,” for more information on the different types of mulches to use. 

If you haven’t already, you can also plant shrubs and trees during this month. 

With so many beautiful flowers in season, consider saving a few for a pressed flower arrangement. It’s a great way to preserve your flowers in an artistic way! We have a publication that can help you learn everything you need to know about creating a pressed floral design. Learn more here!