With spring in full swing and mild temperatures holding steady, it’s time for local gardeners to roll up their sleeves and dig into their April to-do lists. The Harris County Master Gardeners, a team of trained volunteers with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, have released their top gardening tips for April—offering research-based advice tailored to Houston’s unique growing conditions.

Whether you're managing flower beds, maintaining your lawn, or planning a summer harvest, April is a key month for prepping and planting.

“April always reminds me of all the things I should already be doing in my own garden,” said Karen Shook, Harris County Master Gardener and author of this month’s gardening guide. “But it’s also a great time to pause and enjoy the beauty of spring—and make the most of this productive season.”

April Planting: Vegetables, Annuals, and More

Now is the time to plant warm-season vegetables like tomatoes, squash, and cucumbers while temperatures still allow for strong root development.

“If you haven’t planted tomatoes yet, don’t wait,” Shook advised. “You’ll want to get them in the ground before the real heat sets in—otherwise they’ll stop setting fruit.”

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For flowers, April is a prime month to add warm-season bedding plants and freshen up cool-season annuals. Keep containers well-watered and fertilized weekly at half-strength to encourage continuous blooms. Many cool-season flowers, she adds, are even edible—so gardeners can enjoy their beauty and flavor.

Gardeners are also reminded to fertilize perennials and ornamental grasses, shear back leggy growth, and divide chrysanthemums toward the end of the month.

Spring Lawn and Landscape Care

April is the start of the growing season for warm-season grasses like St. Augustine and Bermuda, which means it’s time to fertilize—after your second mowing of actively growing turf.

“Be mindful when applying weed killers, especially on St. Augustine lawns,” said Shook. “These grasses can be sensitive to herbicides in warmer weather, so always check the label first.”

Newly planted shrubs and groundcovers will still need supplemental watering, and now is a good time to prune spring-flowering shrubs and vines once their blooms have faded. Don’t forget to check the pH of your soil if you're growing acid-loving plants like azaleas.

“Just because a plant is sold locally doesn’t mean it will thrive here,” Shook said. “The Earth-Kind® Plant Selector is a great resource to help you find plants that match your landscape and climate.”

Watch for Pests and Stay Ahead of Problems

April also brings an uptick in garden pests—especially caterpillars like canna leaf rollers. Shook recommends checking plants for droppings, leaf holes, or rolled leaves, and applying treatments as needed.

For roses, it’s important to stay on a regular spraying schedule—every 7 to 10 days through fall—to manage issues like blackspot and powdery mildew.

And as temperatures warm, it's a great opportunity to inspect and repair irrigation systems to ensure plants get the right amount of water—deep and infrequent is always better than shallow and frequent.

“A good, deep watering does more for your plants than daily sprinkles,” said Shook. “April is a perfect time to evaluate how your irrigation system is performing and make adjustments.”

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Resources for Gardeners in Houston

The Harris County Master Gardeners provide a wealth of free gardening resources to the public year-round, including the Harris County Vegetable Planting Guide and the Urban Dirt Index—an archive of region-specific articles that cover everything from soil health to pollinator-friendly plants.

Need help with a gardening issue? Submit your questions directly through their “Ask a Master Gardener” portal at hcmga.tamu.edu/ask-a-question. For more on April gardening in the Houston area and a full calendar of free gardening events, expert tips, and local workshops, visit the Harris County Master Gardeners website at hcmga.tamu.edu.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.