April Garden Tasks
April is the first full month of spring in the garden. If this is the first month you have gotten out into the garden you will likely find that your garden plants have begun their spring growth. But in addition you may find that your weeds have been just as busy over the past few months. The last average frost can be as early as April 19th in the Puget Sound Region but it can be more than a month later depending on where you live in relationship to the Sound. (People in other parts of the country can find their frost dates on these Freeze/Frost Maps Don’t be tempted to put out tender plants until next month unless you plant to protect them with row covers or cloche’s. Even if our last frost is early most heat loving plants will not make much growth in our cool spring weather. Nature that can give you an indication of how far along the season is. You can start a journal on what plants are blooming in your garden and neighborhood as well as when you planted and the results. You can also track frosts by getting a min/max thermometer or finding a local weather station like mine. Soil temperatures are also a good gauge for direct planting of seeds as well as seedlings. Tracking this kind of information can help you to get an early start in years to come. You can also get an early start by utilizing season extending devices like floating row covers or liquid filled hot caps (cloche).
