Photo courtesy of member Catherine Gillespie.

April-

Plant

​Plant azaleas, roses, clematis and perennials. 

• Mulch your flowerbeds to improve soil texture and preserve moisture.
• The Old Farmer's 2021 Almanac predicts that the last frost in Richmond, Virginia is April 10.
• ​​Read about helpful native plants, plants for birds and pollinators, and invasive species. Plant natives, plants for pollinators and remove invasive species.

Light Pruning and Care for Houseplants

• Divide summer and fall blooming perennials. 
• Clear and prepare vegetable garden beds for planting. 
• Remember to nurture your houseplants by keeping their foliage clean and watering when dry. 

Fertilize and Mulch

• Pine needles, rotted sawdust, straw, and leaves make great mulch.​
• Wood ash will raise pH and can be used on roses, peonies, clematis and daffodils.
• Mulching flowerbeds improves soil texture. 
• Tip - if you want earthworms, mulch deeply.

Chores

• Clean and repair birdhouses. Remember to keep feeders and bird baths clean.
• Clean up and weed garden beds as you prepare for spring planting. 
• Sharpen and clean tools. 

Tips:  

• As always, clean your tools when you finish with one plant and before you move to the next.  
• Wear gloves for all of your gardening and yard chores;  protect your skin from sun, dirt, bugs, and poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac.  ​

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Thanks to Suzanne Aiello who compiled these tips for the Dolley Madison Garden Club.