Gardening Tips: April

Spring officially arrived on March 20 but don’t get too ambitious about getting those plants in the ground just yet! It’s still a little too cold to plant seed or install new tender plantings in the North Georgia mountains. Cold soil does not promote a healthy vegetable or flower. Different plants perform and produce best with specific soil temperatures.

If you are in doubt, check your seed packets for ideal soil temps before planting. Most will list the month for your USDA zone. Remember that frosts have been reported as late as May in our area. You can still start your favorite plants indoors.

There’s always something to do in the garden though. April is a good time to:

• Start out slowly. Those muscles and bones have been at rest over the winter — Don’t overdo it!

• Do your final winter yard cleanup before planting time.

• Till the soil in the area for planting, and add amendments like compost.

• Build those last-minute raised beds and other projects you’ve been waiting for warmer weather to do.

• Visit local plant sales — like our huge Spring Plant Sale at Victory Home from May 7-10.

• Keep an eye on soil temperatures.

• Plant new rose bushes.

• Divide perennials such as day lilies, iris, phlox, mums, and daisies.

• Thatch and overseed the lawn.

• Plant perennial vegetables like asparagus and rhubarb.

• Plant cool-weather veggies like peas, carrots, beets, spinach and cabbage. Root crops like potatoes, onions and radishes can be planted too.

• Plant fruit trees now.

Warmer weather is around the corner. I can hear the garden calling!

— Headwaters MG Kathy Booker