Garden Prep for April

April is here, and if you’re a gardener, you know what that means—it’s go-time in the garden! There’s so much to do this time of year, and honestly, it makes my heart so happy to dive into all those spring garden preparation tasks.

Here in Oklahoma, things have been a little weird weather-wise (80s one week, snow the next). It’s a real guessing game. We’re sitting in zones 6b-7a—more on what that means in a minute—so our last freeze hasn’t happened yet (fingers crossed for the week of April 20th!).

Knowing your zone and waiting for that final frost will save you the heartbreak (and double work) of planting too early (more on that next). So, let’s get into the Gardening prep for April and get your spring garden ready!

What’s a Gardening Zone?

Before we dive in to all things April garden prep, let’s quickly chat about zones. If you’ve ever heard someone say, “I’m in Zone 7,” and wondered if they were talking about some secret gardening club, don’t worry—it’s way simpler than that.

Planting seeds is all about timing, and your gardening zone determines exactly when to start. If you live in the U.S., the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map divides the country into 13 zones based on the average annual minimum winter temperature in your area. It’s why a gardener in Michigan doesn’t plant at the same time as one in Florida! For most of us in the U.S., spring gardening begins in earnest sometime in March or April, but exact dates will vary.

Here’s a breakdown of gardening zones in the U.S.:

• Zones 1-3: These are the coldest zones, found in parts of Alaska and the northernmost stretches of the U.S. Winters see temperatures as low as -60°F, so growing seasons are short.

• Zones 4-5: Found in the northern Midwest and the New England region, these zones are great for cold-weather crops but still experience long winters.

• Zones 6-7: (where I’m located!) Mild zones that cover parts of the Midwest, southern Oklahoma, and parts of Tennessee. This is prime territory for many fruits and veggies, as seasons are longer and frosts are less harsh. Here in Oklahoma, we straddle the line between 6-7. This means our growing season starts a little later than southern states but earlier than chillier northern ones.)

• Zones 8-9: Think Texas, Florida, and parts of California. Growing seasons here are long, and frost is rare.

• Zones 10-13: Found in southern Florida, Hawaii, and tropical regions. Winter is almost non-existent, and gardeners here often enjoy year-round growing.

If you’re not sure of your zone, head to the map—just type in your zip code!

So why is this important? The last thing you want is to plant too early, only for a freeze to undo all your hard work. So, be patient and wait until that last frost passes—it’s worth it to avoid replanting everything later.

Keep in mind even within your zone, microclimates exist! For example, if your garden is sheltered by a fence or wall, it may heat up faster than other parts of your yard.

Gardening Jobs for April

Alright, gloves on. From pest control to seed sowing, here’s what you need to tackle this month to get your garden prepped and planted.

1. Protect Your Plants from Pests

While we can’t wait for spring, it also queues the arrival of those unwanted garden pests. If you’re dealing with snails and slugs, now’s the time to plan your defenses. DIY pest control solutions can save your garden and keep things eco-friendly.

For Slugs and Snails:

Slugs and snails are drawn to moist and shady spots, and their damage is easy to spot—big, ragged holes in leaves and slimy trails. Here’s how to fight back:

• Crushed Eggshells: Scatter them around your plants to create a barrier they won’t want to cross. Not only do they deter slugs, but they add calcium to the soil as they break down!

• Beer Traps: Pour a little beer into a small dish and set it in your garden. Slugs will be attracted to it and, well… let’s just say you’ll find them there in the morning.

• Salt Barrier: Sprinkle salt around the edge of your garden bed, but sparingly—it can harm soil health if overused.

• Hand Picking: Honestly, sometimes the best defense is just getting out there and removing the pests by hand (Drop them in soapy water to finish the job quickly.).

For Soft-Bodied Insects Like Aphids and Whiteflies:

Aphids and whiteflies love to sap your plants of energy—but you’ve got options:

1. DIY Garlic Spray: Crush 2–3 cloves of garlic and let them steep in a gallon of water overnight. Strain, pour into a spray bottle, and spritz plants to ward off pests.

2. Soapy Water Spray: Combine a teaspoon of mild dish soap with a quart of water and spray leaves thoroughly. This dries out soft-bodied pests like aphids.

3. Banana Peel Strips: Place small pieces of banana peel (face-up) under aphid-infested plants. The peels will attract beneficial predatory insects like ladybugs that feed on pests.

4. Ladybugs: Nature’s pest control! These bugs munch aphids and other nuisances like crazy.

For Beetles and Caterpillars:

Beetles and caterpillars create larger damage, and their larvae can be even worse.

• Diatomaceous Earth (DE): Sprinkle food-grade DE around your plants. It’s deadly to pests but harmless to humans and pets.

• Cayenne Spray: Mix 1 gallon of water with a teaspoon of cayenne and a drop of dish soap. Spray it around your garden—bugs hate the spice.

• Citrus trap: Cut a grapefruit or orange peel in half, hollow out the inside, and place it upside-down on the soil. It’s a perfect lure for snails or beetles, and you can toss them once trapped.

2. Plant Your Potatoes

April is the time to get those potatoes in the ground. Whether you're planting in raised beds or grow bags, there are a few tricks:

• Pre-sprout your slips: Potatoes grow from slips, which are the sprouts you get when placing the tuber in a glass of water or loose soil. If you don’t have slips yet, grab some sweet potato starts from your local nursery.

• Prep your soil: Sweet potatoes love nutrient-rich, loose soil. Mix compost, chicken manure, or organic potato fertilizer to give them the best start.

• Spacing: Plant slips about 12 inches apart, with the vines having plenty of space to sprawl.

• Water heavily after planting. Sweet potatoes need consistently moist soil to root well.

If you're worried about scabs or yield issues in grow bags, try planting some in raised beds and others in grow bags. Compare results to see what works best for your garden!

Gardening is all about learning as you go, so don’t sweat it if things don’t go perfectly the first time around!

3. Reseed Your Lawn

A patchy lawn can be frustrating, but April is hands-down the best time to repair and reseed it. Here’s how to make your lawn lush and green again:

• Aerate the soil, especially if you’ve had heavy winter traffic that compacted it. Use a hand aerator or rent a machine for larger spaces.

• Rake bare spots. Gently break up the soil so the grass seed blends well with the surface.

• Pick the right seed type. Some seed mixes are better for sun, some for shade—read the labels carefully and pick seeds suited to your zone and soil type.

• Sow grass seeds evenly across your lawn.

• Water regularly. Grass seed needs consistent moisture to sprout, especially in dry weather.

• Be patient—grass takes time to grow, but April’s warmer weather and moisture give it a great head start.

A little effort now can mean a beautiful, barefoot-friendly lawn by summer!

4. Harden Off Your Plants

If you’ve been growing seedlings indoors, April is the time to begin hardening them off so they’re ready for life outside. Here’s how:

• Sunny Days Matter: Place your plants outside for a few hours a day, gradually increasing the time they spend outdoors.

• Skip warm-loving plants: Hold off on taking delicate plants like tomatoes, cucumbers, and chilies outside until late April at the earliest—it’s just too cold for them yet.

• Keep them elevated: Don’t leave plants sitting directly on the ground, as they’re more susceptible to cold spots and pests down there.

Warm-loving crops should only be left outside full-time after nighttime temperatures are consistently above 50°F. Easing your plants into outdoor life will set them up for success when they’re ready to go in the ground.

5. Sow Those Seeds

What to Direct Sow in April

• Herbs: Parsley, dill, coriander, and chives all do well when direct sown into garden beds. Herbs love the cool temperatures of early spring, so this is their time to shine.

• Companion plants: Marigolds and calendula are companion plant favorites! They naturally deter pests like aphids and attract friendly pollinators like bees.

• Cool-weather veggies: Veggies like peas, spinach, radishes, lettuces, and carrots are perfect for direct sowing in April because they love cooler soil temperatures.

What to Start Indoors

• Basil (and other warmth-loving herbs): Start basil seeds indoors now so you’ll they’ll be ready to transplant once the weather warms up in May.

• Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers: These warm-loving crops still need cozy indoor starts to make sure they’re ready to plant after the last frost.

If you want an extra edge to improve your success rate, there’s a trick every gardener should know about: soaking your seeds. This one simple step can make a huge difference for your garden.

Why Soak Seeds?

Seeds come with a protective outer coating. While this coating helps keep seeds good for months (or even years), it can also slow down germination because it needs to soften before the seed takes root. By soaking your seeds, you’re basically speeding up this process and giving nature a head start. In many cases, you’ll notice seeds sprouting in just a day or two rather than the standard wait time.

How to Soak Seeds (Step-by-Step)

1. Grab your supplies:
   You’ll need a clean container, fresh lukewarm water, and your seeds. I recommend using small jars, bowls, or even mason jars with a lid to keep the dust out.

2. Label everything:
   If you’re soaking multiple types of seeds, you’ll want to label the containers. Once they’re wet, they can look very similar!

3. Fill the container:
   Pour enough water into your jar or bowl to fully submerge the seeds. Room-temperature or slightly lukewarm water works best because cold water can slow the process.

4. Soak for the correct amount of time:
   Timing is everything when it comes to soaking. The goal is to soften the seed coat but not leave the seed waterlogged.

   • Short soaks (12-24 hours): Perfect for small, soft-seeded varieties like tomatoes, basil, parsley, or lettuce.

   • Medium soaks (24-36 hours): Ideal for larger seeds like peppers, peas, and beans.

   • Longer soaks (36-48 hours): Needed for thick-coated seeds such as corn or squash.

   Tip: Avoid soaking delicate seeds like carrots or cilantro too long, as they may rot. For most small seeds, 12 hours is usually sufficient.

5. Plant immediately:
   Once the seeds are soaked, get them into the soil immediately! Wet seeds can start to rot if they’re left out too long after soaking. Depending on your climate, you can either direct sow them into the garden or start them in seed trays indoors.

Do All Seeds Need Soaking?

Not every seed type requires soaking, so save this step for plants that benefit from it. Seeds that tend to have thicker or tougher outer shells, like beans, peas, corn, sunflowers, and squash, will see the biggest improvement from soaking. For tiny or delicate seeds, soaking isn’t always necessary, as they absorb water from the soil more easily.

On the flip side, pre-soaked seeds might not be helpful if you’re sowing directly into extremely wet soil because the seeds can become overly waterlogged. If your garden soil is waterlogged after a rainstorm, hold off a few days before sowing soaked seeds.

Seed Soaking FAQs

• Can I soak seeds too long?
  Yes. Over-soaking can “drown” the seed and lead to rotting, especially with smaller or more delicate ones. Stick to the timing guidelines above.

• Do I need special water?
  Nope! Regular tap water is fine, but if your tap water is chlorinated, filtered or distilled water is a safer bet.

• Should I soak seeds in warm water?
  Slightly warm water (around body temperature) is perfect because it mimics conditions in spring soil.

• Will soaked seeds store for later?
  Unfortunately, no. Seeds need to be planted immediately after soaking—they’re delicate and ready to germinate quickly at this stage.

Looking Ahead to May

While April is just getting started, it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on what’s coming next. May is all about getting summer crops in the ground and keeping up with simple garden maintenance:

• Plant summer veggies like tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and peppers once the risk of frost has passed.

• Weed control: Stay on top of weeding to keep your plants growing strong. A quick pull here and there makes a big difference.

• Add mulch: Help your soil stay cool and lock in moisture while also cutting down on weeds.

That’s it for Gardening Prep for April! This month is all about setting your garden up for success—whether it’s tackling pests, planting potatoes, or preparing for summer veggies. Every little step you take now makes a big difference for the season ahead.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure to check out my other blog posts HERE for more gardening and homesteading tips. There’s always something new to grow and learn!

Happy planting, friends!