April 1–15 Garden Tasks (Central Texas): What to Plant & What to Avoid

Written By Colleen Dieter

Welcome back, gardening friends! In this episode of the ATXGardens Podcast, landscape consultant and certified arborist Colleen Dieter walks you through what to do in your Central Texas garden in the first half of April. With the last freeze behind us and temperatures rising quickly, it’s time to shift fully into spring planting, fruit tree care, and preparing your garden for the heat ahead.

Let’s dig in.

🌡️ Post-Freeze Check: What to Replace & What to Watch

After a late surprise freeze, some warm-season vegetables may show damage like:

  • Wilted or blackened leaves

  • Purple or yellow discoloration

  • Stunted or slow growth

If more than 30% of a plant is damaged and not recovering, it’s best to remove and replace it—especially for crops like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and squash.

🌳 Trees & Shrubs: What to Plant (and What to Avoid)

Early April is still a great time to plant:

  • Mediterranean trees: figs, pomegranates, bay laurels

  • Tropical woody plants: bougainvillea, loquats

Avoid planting now:

  • Oaks

  • Pecans

  • Roses

  • Hollies

  • Redbuds

If you don’t already have these, wait until fall for better success.

⚠️ Important:
Do NOT prune trees or shrubs right now—especially oaks. Spring pruning can stress plants and spread oak wilt disease. Wait until summer.

🍎 Fruit Trees: Disease Prevention, Pest Control & Thinning Prep

April is a critical time for fruit tree care in Central Texas.

Now is the time to:

  • Apply biofungicides (like Actinovate or compost tea)

  • Prevent fungal and bacterial diseases

  • Protect developing fruit from pests

You have three main options for pest control:

  • Cover fruit with micro-mesh or orchard socks

  • Spray organic insecticide (like Take Down Garden Spray)

  • Accept minor pest damage and trim affected fruit

If spraying:

  • Spray at petal drop (~75–80%)

  • Repeat at “shuck split”

  • Spray again 10–14 days later

🌱 Important tip:
If your fruit trees are under 3 years old, remove all fruit to support root development.

Colleen also reminds gardeners to prepare mentally for fruit thinning, one of the most important (and most skipped) orchard tasks.

🌼 Perennials, Bulbs & Irrigation Planning

April is one of the BEST times to:

  • Plant or transplant perennials, grasses, bulbs, succulents, and groundcovers

  • Divide overcrowded plants

  • Rework garden layouts

💧 Plan ahead for summer watering:

  • Install soaker hoses

  • Use sprinklers for larger beds

  • Add quick-connect hose systems for efficiency

Getting irrigation set up now will save you stress later when the heat hits.

🥕 Vegetable Garden: Full Warm-Season Planting Mode

Now is peak planting time for warm-season crops.

Plant from transplants:

  • Tomatoes

  • Peppers

  • Eggplants

Direct seed:

  • Beans (bush & pole)

  • Corn

  • Cucumbers

  • Squash

  • Melons

  • Pumpkins

You can also plant:

  • Okra (from seed)

  • Sweet potatoes (from slips)

🌱 Warm-season greens like Malabar spinach can also go in now.

Don’t forget to:

  • Add compost and fertilizer

  • Mulch beds with leaves or grass clippings

🌿 Herb Garden & Flowers: What to Plant Now

Plant from transplants:

  • Rosemary

  • Oregano

  • Thyme

  • Lavender

  • Mint

  • Lemongrass

  • Catnip

Plant from seed:

  • Basil

  • Borage

🌸 Warm-season flowers to plant now:

  • Sunflowers

  • Zinnias

  • Cosmos

  • Amaranth

  • Celosia

Swap out cool-season annuals (pansies, snapdragons) for:

  • Begonias

  • Impatiens

  • Pentas

  • Purslane

🌱 Lawn Care: First Mowing & Fertilizing Tips

For healthy Central Texas lawns:

  • Set mower height to the highest setting

  • Mow less frequently (every 2 weeks or less)

  • Keep blades sharp

Fertilize once in March or April using:

  • Organic lawn fertilizer (Sustane 8-2-4 or MicroLife 6-2-4)

  • Water in with Medina Soil Activator or compost tea

Avoid over-mowing and cutting grass too short—this is one of the most common lawn care mistakes.

🌻 Community & Gardening with Purpose

Colleen introduces a new “activism” segment, encouraging gardeners to plant sunflowers in support of Ukraine. Sunflowers symbolize resilience and are an important crop globally.

It’s also a reminder that gardening connects us to bigger systems—food security, biodiversity, and cultural preservation.

🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned

Fruit Tree Grafting for Everyone: https://amzn.to/3PCM8OE

Actinovate: https://amzn.to/3NY3ViO

Arber: https://amzn.to/4uSjYQ4

Maggot Barriers for developing fruit: https://amzn.to/47lFdj3

Take Down Garden Spray: https://amzn.to/4d6mDzc

Soaker Hose: https://amzn.to/4bYbejL

Little round sprinkler: https://amzn.to/4dELGcA

Quick Connects: https://amzn.to/4lNyqVj

Sustane 8-2-4: https://amzn.to/481TO3e

Microlife 6-2-4: https://amzn.to/3NSJiVg

Medina Plus Soil Activator: https://amzn.to/3PqBoTA

Garden Variety Sunflower Seeds from a reputable source: https://shop.seedsavers.org/flower/sunflowers

Wild Texas Sunflower Seeds: https://seedsource.com/common-sunflower/?searchid=949055&search_query=sunflower

🌼 Stay Connected

For more Central Texas gardening guidance, visit http://ATXGardens.com , follow Colleen on Instagram @‌ATXGardens_, and subscribe to the ATXGardens Podcast for seasonal, science-based gardening advice tailored to Austin and the surrounding region.

Colleen Dieter
Next

What to Do in Your Central Texas Garden (March 15–April 1): Pruning Citrus Trees, Spring Perennial and Vegetable Planting, Lawn Care Tips