With the warming sunshine and the end of the winter winds, April is an ideal time to plant container grown conifers and shrubs. Conifers and evergreen shrubs straight from the crowded nursery bed are often a little tender and will lose water rapidly though the leaves until established in their new home. Therefore it is essential that you apply water in copious amounts during the first few months after planting. Also peat or wood chippings around the base of the plant will help retain moisture.

If you own a greenhouse, (and you are prepared to use heat), its time to sow half-hardy annuals (Bedding Plants) for planting out after the spring frosts are over. Begonia corms and dahlia tubers can be started off in a shallow tray of compost in the glasshouse, for bedding out later. By the way, make sure that you washed off the winter dirt and moss from the glass, to give maximum light and clear away any over wintered pests which may have been lurking there.

Outdoors, potatoes can be planted this month, if you like the taste of a freshly harvested spud they are a crop worth growing. But, unless you have lots of garden space, potatoes are not really an economic proposition.

Dwarf Beans and early varieties of Runner Beans can be sown outdoors right at the end of April, but be prepared to cover the plants if frost is forecast. If you are in a frost prone area sowing indoors and planting out after the danger of frosts is past, is probably the safer option.

Magnolias are a magnificent sight in mid April. To keep your magnolias in top form it is advisable to spread some garden peat around the base of the bush to maintain an acid environment which magnolias require. Also magnolias tend to suffer from magnesium deficiency, a yearly application of Epsom salts will correct this.

Shrubs and trees There still is time to plant trees and shrubs. However, by mid month it will be a little late to transplant large trees or shrubs, so do them now. The months of March, April and May are ideal for pruning evergreens. So if you have a Juniper, Cypress or conifer that need shearing or pruning this is a good time to accomplish this task. Remove all dead, diseased, and undesirable wood. However, do not prune back into the bare wood part of the plant. Prune your Forsythia after it finishes flowering. Broadleaf and needle leaf evergreens benefit most from lightly spreading a high nitrogen fertilizer around their bases. Perennials, annuals, and bulbs April is the month for planting summer flowering bulbs like dahlias, gladiolas and lilies. Mix bulb fertilizer, processed manure and peat moss into the planting soil. Tuberous Begonias and Cannas should not be set outdoors until all danger of frost has passed, so wait until next month. Plant annual seeds of asters, cosmos, marigolds, zinnias in the garden. When all frost danger has passed you can move your stored fuchsias and geraniums outdoors. Trim them back, feed and re-pot if necessary. Water them well. When they have finished blooming, you should deadhead your spring flowering bulbs. Do not cut off the green foliage yet! These green leaves continue to grow for a few weeks, and provide the bulb with food for flowering next year. Divide perennials like Daylilies, Delphiniums, Iris, Chrysanthemums, Daisies and Phlox. The additional plants you create can be traded or given to friends, or moved to a new area of the garden.

Hybrid Tea Roses should be fertilized prior to buds beginning to bloom. Using a systemic fertilizer will help prevent insect infestation later in the summer, as it feeds your rose.

Plant new rosebushes before growth starts and buds swell. If you have a pond or pool you should set aquatic plants any time after the middle of the month.

As mowing becomes necessary, be certain that the blade is sharp to prevent tearing the grass tips. Set the blade on your lawnmower to cut the grass at 2 1/2 inches to avoid scalping.
(A mulching blade will eliminate the need to rake or bag the clippings, prevent thatch build-up, and the clippings will provide food for the lawn.)

Fruits and vegetables
Control weeds and aerate the soil by cultivating between the rows of plants.

April is a great time to select and plant fruit trees and berry plants. Fruits and berries do best when planted in full sun.

Plant perennial vegetables like asparagus, rhubarb, horseradish, etc. It's also time to plant peas, carrots, beets, spinach, cauliflower, cabbage, etc. Root crops like potatoes, radishes, parsnips and onions can be planted at anytime. Late this month you can plant beans and corn. Warmer weather crops like tomatoes, squash, cucumbers and peppers should not be planted until next month.

As your direct-seeded crops sprout, be sure to keep them thinned out to avoid crowding.
Cut out all the dead canes from your raspberry patch. The new canes that will bear this year's fruit should have new, swollen buds along the edges. Thin these to five canes per foot of row to allow good air circulation and prevent overcrowding.