Dig Into Spring: Spring Planting Ideas
April is the time of year when gardeners get the itch to go outdoors and dig in the dirt for Spring planting, and lucky for us, it’s the perfect time to plant summer-flowering bulbs, rhizomes, corms, and tubers, as well as flowers, vegetables, berries, and fruit trees.
It’s important that you plant after danger of frost has passed in your area. In Texas, the average dates for the last frost can range from late January to mid-April depending on the area, unless you live in far South Texas where it seldom freezes.
Many summer-flowering bulbs will thrive with little or no attention and provide years of beautiful color if you give them ample sun and well-drained, fertile soil. Some varities to consider are gladiolus, cannas, lilies, calla lilies, oxalis, irises, daylilies, snowflakes, and amaryllis.
Texas heirloom bulbs are also a good choice for your summer garden. These bulbs are hardy and well-suited for the Texas climate, including St. Joseph’s lily, oxblood lily, crinum, bearded iris, Grand Primo daffodil, and spider lily.
Annual flower seeds to put in the ground in April include amaranthus, celosia, asters, cosmos, marigold, zinnia and other warm-season flowers. Perennials can include lantana, verbena, hostas, salvia, sedums, ornamental grasses, purple coneflower, rudbeckia, ferns, and summer phlox.
Nurseries stock a variety of vegetable plants ready to add to your garden in April, including bush and pole beans, cucumber, cantaloupe, tomatoes, peppers, summer and winter squash, peas, carrots, beets, spinach, cauliflower, cabbage, and watermelons. It’s also a good time to plant berries and fruit trees.
