Ask Annie- April Garden Checklist

This week, we are going to start the 2026 growing season off with your April garden checklist. April is indeed a shoulder month- lots of prep, some planting, and plenty of just watching the weather. Here is a handy checklist to get you going and help curb that pressing desire to get your hands busy and back in the earth:

Zone 4a: Delay most work until soil is fully thawed and workable

Zone 4b: Mid-April is prime time

Zone 5a: Earlier start; watch for false spring warmups

• Remove winter debris/mulch gradually. Our pollinator friends are likely still sleeping, so leave some leaf litter until consistently 50°F
• Cut back dead stems/mushy foliage. Leave hollow stems intact until May.
• Inspect trees and shrubs for winter damage. Trim anything dead or broken.
• Top dress garden beds with compost like Purple Cow Compost

• Prune summer-blooming shrubs (spirea, potentilla, panicle and arborescence hydrangea). Don’t touch your spring bloomers, like Lilac, Forsythia, and Viburnum! They will hold a grudge.
• Prune fruit trees before bud break
• Cut back ornamental grasses to 4-6in before new growth starts
• Remove dead canes from roses- wait to shape until leaf-out

• Divide summer and fall blooming perennials such as hosta, daylily, phlox, rudbeckia, monarda, and ornamental grasses
• Transplant on a cool, cloudy day and water deeply
• Aim for 40-50 degree soil temperatures before planting.
• Monitor overnight lows- a hard freeze is normal this time of year! Cover new growth if temps drop below 25 degrees.

• Planning a new garden site? Get your soil tested!
• Clean and sharpen your tools
• Note winter losses (it happens to the best of us) and plan for bare spots.

And remember, gardening is never about perfection, it’s about curiosity, patience, and showing up with hope. I’m cheering you on as you try new things, learn from the missteps, and celebrate each little success. Until our next chat, happy gardening and keep growing!

-Annie

Have a perennial issue, mystery, or design dilemma? Annie can help!

Always approachable and happy to help!