What to Plant in April
A zone-by-zone breakdown of the best seeds to sow and starts to plant as the spring thaw moves north.
The Great Spring Rush
April is the most chaotic month in the gardening calendar. Depending on your zip code, you are either digging out from the last snowbank or already harvesting your first round of greens. The biggest mistake you can make right now is rushing the season. Planting a heat-loving plant during a cool April night is a death sentence. To succeed, you have to align your shovel with your specific hardiness zone. Here is how to navigate the April planting window without losing your mind or your budget.
Zones 4 through 6: The Patient Start
If you live in the North, the ground is likely still cold and soggy. Do not walk on your garden beds if they are muddy, as this ruins the soil structure. This is the time for cold-weather warriors. You can safely put pansies and Sweet Pea in the ground now. These plants actually enjoy a light frost. It is also the perfect time to plant bare-root Rose bushes and perennials like Hosta and Bleeding Heart while they are still dormant. Getting them in the ground now gives their roots a full season to establish before summer heat arrives.
Zones 7 through 10: The Heat Is Coming
For those in the South and West, the danger of frost has likely passed. You are in the sweet spot for planting almost everything. This is your moment to get warm-season plants established before the summer heat becomes oppressive. You can direct-sow Zinnia and Marigold seeds for easy summer color. If you are a fan of Dahlia, get those tubers in the soil now so they have time to establish a strong root system before July. For Mediterranean climates, this is the ideal time to plant Lavender so it can settle in before the dry season begins.