April Garden To-Do List

The soil is waking up, and the cherry blossoms are in bloom—spring is officially here! Whether you have a sprawling backyard or a few sunny pots on a balcony, now is the time to lay the groundwork for a lush, productive season.

Here is your quick-start checklist to get your garden growing this month.

1. Replenish Nutrients In Your Soil

Before you put a single seed in the ground or plant any perennials, you need to feed the soil. Compost is the best way to replenish your plants with fresh nitrogen and other nutrients.

Garden & Raised Beds: Spread a 2–3 inch layer of fresh compost over the surface. I prefer to use mushroom compost in my vegetable garden. For my raised beds, I use locally sourced compost from my zoo. But there are many great options you can purchase at your local nursery.

Containers: Top off your pots with fresh compost or refresh the top few inches with worm castings to give your container plants a head start.

If you live near Snohomish, the Snohomish Garden Center is a great local resource for sourcing a variety of compost and soil conditioners.

2. The Early Bird Harvest (Cool-Season Crops)

Some vegetables thrive in the chilly spring air. Get these in the ground now so they can mature before the summer heat kicks in.

The Onion Family: Plant your onions, chives, and leeks. These are cool-weather plants.

Berry Bliss: Now is the perfect time to tuck in strawberry starts. Make sure the "crown" (where the leaves meet the roots) is level with the soil surface.

Direct Sowing: You can plant these seeds directly into the dirt today:

Root Veggies: Carrots, radishes, and beets.

Greens: Lettuce and spinach for those crisp spring salads.

3. It’s Not Too Late To Start Warm-Season Vegetables Inside

If you haven't started your long-season stars yet, don't panic! You still have time to start seeds indoors under lights or on a sunny windowsill for a late-summer harvest.

Pro Tip: Starting indoors gives delicate plants a "boot camp" environment where they can grow strong before facing the outdoor elements.

What to start now:

Fruiting Plants: Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, winter and summer squash

Herbs: Basil, oregano, sage, and thyme (they love the warmth).

Companion Flowers: Marigolds and calendula. Not only are they beautiful, but they also help deter pests naturally.

If you would rather buy from a store, buy your warm-season plants from a local nursery next month. Avoid planting your warm-season starts until evening temperatures are in the 50s. Ideally, we want those temperatures to be warmer, but here in the Seattle area, we don’t get many nights in the 60s.

Happy Planting! There’s nothing quite like the feeling of dirt under your fingernails after a long winter. What are you most excited to grow this year?