April Your garden ......
Plant 
  • Azaleas, roses, clematis, perennials can be planted now. Wait to plant annuals until past the danger of frost. 
Pruning and Cleaning Up
  • Spring flowering shrubs, quince, spirea, lilacs, weigela, etc. after they finish blooming. You can cut out 1/3 of the old wood. Beauty berry can be pruned to the ground (it produces berries on new growth). ​
Fertilize and Mulch
  •  Fertilize only as needed. 
  • Pine needles, rotted sawdust, straw, and leaves  make great mulch. 
  • Add mulch to flowerbeds to improve soil texture and preserve moisture.
Chores
  • Divide summer and fall blooming perennials. Discard the center portion when dividing ornamental grasses. 
  • Think about organic seeds and plants started without neonicotoids for your vegetables, flowers, shrubs, and trees.
Picture
Tip for Every month: ​
  • Keep your tools clean. Clean your tools after every use. 
  • Wear gloves. Use gloves for all of your gardening chores. Gloves will keep your skin out of direct contact with toxic plant substances (digitalis and nightshade families are toxic throughout the plant structure down to the roots). Remember, when handling peat moss  you can avoid a serious fungal infection (sporotrichosis - also called 'rose gardener's disease') if you wear gloves.  
  • Watch out for Giant Hogweed. Giant Hogweed is in our area (Fredericksburg) It is a member of the wild carrot family native to Asia and can reach heights of 6-10 feet. It looks like a giant Queen Anne's Lace as it grows. It is highly toxic! Do NOT touch, pull, brush against, or weed-whack this plant. Do NOT handle this plant. Do NOT try to remove this plant yourself.  Direct contact with this plant sensitizes the skin to the sun and leaves 3rd degree burns. If you see or suspect Giant Hogweed take digital photos of the leaf, stem, and flower and contact your local Virginia Cooperative Extension Office.   (photo Robert Videki, Doronicum Kft.)​
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Thanks to Suzanne Aiello who compiled these tips for the Dolley Madison Garden Club.