What to Do in Your Central Texas Garden (April 15–30): Plant Perennials, Warm Season Veggies, and Do Not Prune Oaks
Late April is one of the busiest — and most important — times of the year for gardeners in Central Texas. As temperatures rise and spring growth accelerates, your garden needs the right care to stay healthy, productive, and ready for summer.
In this episode, we cover everything you need to be doing right now — from recovering plants after a late freeze to planting warm-season crops, managing fruit trees, and improving your soil.
🌿 Recovering From the Late Spring Freeze
If your garden was hit by a late cold snap, don’t panic — many plants can recover.
Look for:
Yellowing or purple leaves
Curling or stunted growth
Damaged foliage
If plants are bouncing back, leave them. If they’re struggling or not improving, it may be time to replace them. Spring rain and warmer temps can help trigger rapid recovery and growth.
🌱 Weed Control Now = Less Work Later
April is peak weed season in Central Texas.
Key tip:
👉 Pull weeds before they go to seed
This simple step:
Breaks the weed life cycle
Reduces next year’s weed problem
Prevents spread of burr-producing weeds like sandburs and cleavers
A little effort now saves a lot of frustration later.
🌳 What to Do (and NOT Do) With Trees & Shrubs
✅ Plant Now:
Figs
Pomegranates
Bay laurels
Loquats
Other Mediterranean or tropical plants
❌ Avoid Planting:
Oaks
Pecans
Roses
Other native woody plants
There’s not enough time for them to establish before summer heat.
🚫 Do NOT Prune Right Now
Spring is the worst time to prune trees and shrubs.
Especially avoid pruning oak trees — this is peak oak wilt season, and pruning can spread the disease.
🍎 Fruit Tree Care in Late April
This is a critical time for fruit trees.
✔️ Spray for Disease Prevention
Use:
Compost tea
Biofungicides (like Actinovate or Arbor)
Garlic spray
These help prevent fungal and bacterial issues.
🐛 Protect Fruit From Worms
Moths are laying eggs on developing fruit right now.
Your options:
Cover fruit with micro mesh or orchard socks
Spray with organic insecticide (timing is critical)
Accept some damage and cut it out
✂️ Thin Your Fruit (Most Important Task!)
If you skip this step, you’ll get:
Small fruit
Poor flavor
Broken branches
Spacing guidelines:
Apples & peaches: 6–8 inches apart
Plums: ~4 inches apart
Pears: 4–5 inches apart
Also:
👉 Remove ALL fruit from trees planted within the last 2 years
This helps trees establish strong roots and structure.
🌼 Perennials, Bulbs & Pollinator Plants
Now is a great time to:
Plant perennials and grasses
Divide overcrowded plants
Transplant anything in the wrong spot
Low-maintenance favorites:
Greg’s mistflower
Lantana
Fall aster
These also support butterflies and pollinators — a major bonus for your garden ecosystem.
🥕 What to Plant in Late April (Central Texas)
This is prime planting season.
🌱 Transplants:
Tomatoes
Peppers
Eggplant
🌾 Direct Sow From Seed:
Beans (bush & pole)
Corn
Cucumbers
Squash
Melons
Pumpkins & gourds
🔥 Heat-Lovers (Start Now):
Okra
Sweet potatoes
🌿 Herbs & Extras:
Basil
Turmeric
Ginger
Roselle hibiscus
Papalo (great cilantro substitute)
🌻 Flowers to Plant Now
Direct sow:
Sunflowers
Zinnias
Celosia
Cosmos
These thrive in heat and support pollinators.
🌱 Lawn Care Tips for Central Texas
✔️ Improve Soil (Especially in Rocky Areas)
Top dress with:
1:1 mix of compost + sand
Apply ¼–½ inch at a time
Repeat 2–3 times per year
❌ Avoid:
Synthetic fertilizers (like 20-20-20)
Weed-and-feed products
These harm soil health and pollute waterways.
🐛 Natural Pest Control
Apply beneficial nematodes:
April
September
Winter (Dec/Jan)
They help control:
Grubs
Fleas
Soil pests
🌍 Gardening With Purpose
Gardening isn’t just about growing plants — it’s about preserving biodiversity.
By planting heirloom or native seeds, you help:
Protect rare plant varieties
Preserve genetic diversity
Support resilience in changing climates
Small actions in your garden can have a lasting global impact.
🔗 Resources & Products Mentioned
ATXGardens newsletter: https://www.atxgardens.com
Actinovate: https://amzn.to/3OnsJ3Y
Arber: https://amzn.to/4bTh6ej
Compost Tea Recipe: https://www.atxgardens.com/podcast/compost-tea-recipe
Maggot Barriers: https://amzn.to/4mbG5Nj
Tree Tie Webbing: https://amzn.to/4dqoyP6
Take Down Garden Spray: https://amzn.to/4mcfPm0
Liquid Humate: https://amzn.to/3PPvVpy
Soil Activator: https://amzn.to/4vdh20g
Beneficial Nematodes: https://amzn.to/4vd6pL6
Guardian Article: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/12/food-source-famine-leningrad-seed-bank-nikolai-vavilov
🌼 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.
