Gardening Tips for April for Capitan, NM

Southwest Region

• Remove any winter-damaged branches or plants that have not begun to grow yet. You can prune spring-flowering plants when they finish blooming.
• Transplant citrus trees, ideally 2 to 5-year-old trees.
• Thin fruit to 6-inch spacing for better fruit size. Also, remember to provide adequate soil moisture for your fruit trees during April and May for good fruit size.
• Continue fertilizing established roses.
• Warm-season lawns can be established in late April from sprigs, plugs, or sod. Start mowing established lawns.
• Begin fertilizing Bermuda and warm-season grasses this month.
• Annual flowers can be seeded now. You can sow the seeds directly in the flower beds, but remember to keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate.
• Thin out flower seedlings so that the plants have enough space to grow. You can transplant the extra seedlings to another area.
• Prune winter damage on your herb plants. Look for new growth developing on the lower part of the herbs, and cut the plant back by 1/3 to 1/2 to the healthy new shoots.
• Remember to water your plants more frequently as the weather warms up and the days lengthen.
• Continue planting vegetables, such as beans, carrots, cucumbers, melons, peppers, squashes, and sunflowers.
• Plant okra toward the end of the month, as it does better with warmer soil.
• Plant vegetables in successive plantings so that you can have a continuous harvest throughout the growing season.
• Remember to thin out your vegetable plants so that they have enough room to grow. If they are too crowded, the plants will become weak.
• Beware of insects and other pests in your garden. Keep an eye on your garden for aphids, spider mites, etc., and take action when necessary to eliminate the pests.