Planning
___ If you haven’t already ordered summer bulbs, do it now!
___ Houseplants may be moved outside.
___ Take a good look at lawns. Do they need fertilizing or renovation? If you are planting a new lawn, decide what kind of grass you will plant.
___ Make plans for which vegetables you will plant after cool-season vegetables are done.
Planting
___ Beware of buying cool-season annuals, particularly petunias that may not bloom through the heat of the summer.
Some good choices for summer bulbs are: agapanthus, canna, crinum, crocosmia dahlia, garlic chives, lilies, and garlic.
If needed, repot orchids.
April is the prime time to plant lawns.
Vegetables to plant now are: Cantaloupe, collards, corn, cucumber, honeydew, lima beans, luffa, Malabar spinach, okra, pumpkin, snap beans, Southern peas, squashes, and sweet potato slips, Swiss chard, and watermelon. From transplants, eggplant, tomatoes, and peppers.
___ Cucumber and squash are best directly son in the ground by seed.
___ Herbs to plant: basil, lemon balm, mints, and rosemary.
Care
___ Leave foliage on spring-flowering bulbs until it is mostly yellow.
___ Houseplants that have been moved outside should remain in a shady to partial sun location and may enjoy a shower from the garden hose to remove dust.
___ Deadhead perennials and keep the mulch level at least 3 inches thick.
___ Because flower clusters on tomatoes will all grow from the same side of the stem, stake tomatoes after the first cluster of flowers appear.
Watering
___ Continue to water annuals in pots and beds as well as newly planted summer-flowering bulbs, and lawn.
___ Deep water perennials, including roses, as needed to develop a stronger, more drought resistant root system.
___ Houseplants that have been moved outside will probably need more water than when they were indoors.
Problems
___ Warmer weather brings increased pest problems. Make sure to keep 3-4 of mulch in beds, and hand pull small weeds.
___ Be sure that insects you may find are not beneficial before treating.
Pruning
___ Dead head faded rose flowers, but do not cut the stems back.
___ Using sharp hand pruners, prune spring-flowering shrubs, vines, ground covers and ornamental grasses as needed anytime after they finish flowering.
___Month-By-Month Gardening in Texas by Dan Gill & Dale Groom