Gardening Calendar For April. Gardening And Gardening In April

April - mid-spring. However, despite the fact that winter is losing ground, the weather this month is quite unstable: either the sun will warm up, then the frost will return again. But the changeable nature is not a hindrance for gardeners and truck farmers, because the work performed in April is the key to the health of the garden and the basis of the summer-autumn harvest. And, frankly speaking, it is already intolerable to sit at home: pulls outside, wants sun, warmth, fresh air. What work must be done in the garden and vegetable garden in April, we will tell in the article.

We clean and plan the territory

One of the main activities of the spring period is preparing the territory for the season. In April, as soon as the snow melts and the soil dries up a little, it would be good to pick up a rake, a broom and sweep away everything that has accumulated on the beds and paths. Put the plant debris in compost, take out the rest. If the gutters are clogged, clean them. Improve drainage in low-lying areas.

In cases of territory development, it's time to plan functional zones. To begin with, they are drawn on paper, and then reproduced in reality. This significantly increases the aesthetic aspect of the site, simplifies its maintenance, and increases the comfort of using the land.

Most often, planning is the division of the territory into subzones, which can be an entrance, a recreation area, a utility yard, a garden and a vegetable garden.

We prepare garden tools

If the weather does not allow working outside, you can do business at home: repair and sharpen garden tools, bribe missing tools, prepare several sets of work clothes. At the same time, it is important not to neglect safety measures when working with chemistry, and for handling chemicals, select separate clothes, which are simply thrown away at the end of the season.

We carry out trimming

When the temperature is set at 0 ° C, spring pruning can and should be started. It is better to start it with crops resistant to low temperatures, such as apple trees, then move on to more thermophilic cherries, apricots, cherries, plums, pears.

The branches must be cut clean without leaving bark sticking out or broken wood. In order not to tear plant tissue and not carry infections, the pruner must be well sharpened and clean. Since the damaged areas of the branches are breeding grounds for diseases, they must be treated with garden varnish or oil paint within 24 hours.

In the same period, it is necessary to inspect and remove damaged shoots of berry bushes, cut off raspberries. If swollen, rounded buds are observed on black currants, this is a kidney mite. The affected branches must be cut and burned.

Each culture has its own norms and pruning techniques. In addition, both the variety and the age of the tree are taken into account (young seedlings are formed in the last turn). Therefore, it is better to ask in advance how to put your garden in order and draw up an individual pruning plan.

Removing winter shelters

As soon as the snow melts, more or less warm weather sets in, with a temperature regime of +5.. + 10 ° C, it is necessary to start removing winter shelters from the vines. This should be done gradually, with a focus on the method of shelter. And only when the threat of frost blows, remove the "winter coat" completely.

If the grape bushes have not been cut off in the fall, immediately after opening, it is necessary to remove the damaged vine from them, form the plants and tie them to the support.

Gradually, the beds with strawberries, planting of raspberries are also being opened. Then the mulch is renewed, spraying is carried out against diseases and pests.

We process the garden

Before bud break, it is necessary to have time with the treatment of trees and shrubs against pests and diseases. For the prevention of a number of diseases at once, a 1-2% solution of Bordeaux liquid is used. Gooseberries and currants are poured over with hot (+65 ° C) water or sprayed with Topaz. Planting strawberries, in order to prevent against strawberry mites, spotting and gray rot, is treated with a manganese solution.

We feed garden crops

In the early spring period, the use of fertilizers is mandatory. Basically, nitrogen is introduced at this time, scattering the pellets over the melting snow. But, if organic matter or complex fertilizer was not applied in the fall, both phosphorus and potassium are used.

We plant trees and shrubs

April is the time for planting seedlings. It's good if the planting holes were prepared in the fall, but if not, they need to be dug now. In this case, it is worth taking into account both the characteristics of the soil and the needs of the planted crops - to lay under the plants exactly such a foundation that can give them a good start.

In addition to planting new plants, this month they pin down and drop in layers to obtain currant and gooseberry seedlings.

Laying the compost heap

After the earth dries up, you can start laying a new compost heap. To do this, it is necessary to knock down a fence, 1.5 m wide, 1 m high, dig a 20 cm depression, put a film or a layer of peat 10 cm thick in it. This bottom will allow the heap to retain moisture and nutrients washed out with water. Walls - simplify maintenance and enhance the aesthetic appearance.

We sow cold-resistant crops

Mid-spring is a good time to sow green crops like watercress, spinach, dill, parsley, carrots, and sorrel outdoors. For more friendly seedlings, they can be covered with foil, but even without shelters, sown at this time, they will give an earlier harvest.

If the ground has warmed up enough, in the middle to the end of the month (depending on the climatic zone) it is already necessary to sow radishes, beets, peas, black onions, and plant garlic. Where potatoes were not planted at the end of March, plant potatoes.

Sowing the beds, do not forget about observing crop rotation and crop compatibility. In addition, it is good to think in advance of planting protective plants for the garden and garden, driving away harmful insects. These include marigolds (calendula), nasturtium, marigolds, tansy and many other flowers familiar to us, which can not only improve the health of trees, shrubs and vegetables, but also perfectly decorate the territory.

Siderata should also become an obligatory part of spring planting. Mustard, rye, phacelia, oats, rapeseed can be sown as soon as the soil thaws. These crops are not afraid of temperature extremes and, in addition, they will cleanse and enrich the land with nutrients, and protect the plantings from return frosts.

We take care of seedlings

In April, the care of the grown seedlings continues. At the beginning of the month, late and medium varieties of white cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, ultra-early ripening tomatoes and eggplants are sown for seedlings.

Cooking greenhouses

If greenhouses for growing thermophilic crops have not been prepared in advance, the beginning of the second month of spring is a great time to put them in order.

Cucumbers are sown in the greenhouses prepared in autumn at the beginning of the month. In the middle, there are seedlings of celery, cabbage, beans. At the end (in the last days of April - at the beginning of May), tomatoes, zucchini, squash are sown in warm soil, heated to +15 ° C.

If vegetables are grown through seedlings, 50-60 day old tomato seedlings are planted in the first decade of the month, and 25-30 day old cucumber seedlings - in the second decade.

Under temporary shelters, seedlings of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and eggplants are planted in the second or third decade of April.

We hope that we have remembered in the article all the obligatory work on caring for the garden and vegetable garden in April. But if you forgot something, write about it in the comments to the article. Perhaps you prefer to do some other important work this month that we have not written about.