Timely Tips

What to Do in April 2026
Weekly Gardening Timely Tips from
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County

April 12 to 18

Perennials: As you add new plants, consider natives that will thrive under the conditions on site without added fertilizer. Many of our native soils contain adequate nutrients for plant growth, so it is best to test the soil before adding fertilizer or other amendments. When fertilizer is not needed, it can encourage weak, spindly growth that is prone to insect attack and diseases. Contact your local Cooperative Extension for advice.

Flowers: Many hardy bulbs such as potted crocus, daffodil, Easter lily, hyacinth, and species tulips that have been forced for spring events may be saved and planted for blossoms in future years. Once the flowers fade, cut off the spent flowers and put the pots in a sunny window. Continue to water them until the leaves turn yellow and the weather outdoors has settled. At that time, plant the bulbs in the garden at the recommended depth for the species and allow them to naturally go dormant. Forced bulbs may take more than one season to recover and bloom again. Hybrid tulips are often treated as annuals since they may not rebloom for many years, if at all.

Fruits and Vegetables: Continue to plant early season vegetables outdoors as the soil becomes workable. Sow seeds of carrots, peas and radishes and salad greens directly in the ground. Orient tall plants to north and shorter varieties to the south for steady sun exposure. Remember to rotate crops to a new spot in the garden so pests and diseases are less likely to build to damaging levels. Indoors, begin to sow seeds for tomatoes. Consider tomato varieties resistant to late blight and with “VF” or “VFN” designation. Diseases such as Verticillium and Fusarium wilts require long rotation cycles away from future tomatoes and related vegetable family plantings. Use resistant varieties to reduce the chance of hard to manage root Nematodes. If you’ve had fruit tree pests in past seasons, plan for management now. Contact your local Cooperative Extension for advice.

Trees and Shrubs: Some trees do best when planted or transplanted in early spring, because this timing gives them at least 6 to 8 weeks of suitable growing conditions to begin to become established before they are stressed by hot weather. Examples include: broadleaved evergreens, dogwood, magnolia, oak, redbud, tulip tree and willow, among others.

Lawns: When the grass reaches 4 inches, begin mowing to a height of 3 or 3½ inches. Consider extending mowing frequency if possible, as this helps to regulate and slow the growth rate of the turf. Hold the fertilizer until Memorial Day, or better yet, skip the spring fertilizer and check back in early fall if this is needed. Interplanting with clover can help to reduce the need for fertilization. Clover and other low growing flowering plants also provide sustenance for bees and other beneficials.

Houseplants: Tropical plants aren’t ready to go outside, but begin sizing up containers and cleaning up appropriate areas outdoors where the plants can spend the summer.

General: Stay out of the gardenwhen the ground is wet or when it’s raining. Working in wet plants can spread diseases, and can compact the soil, impeding the growth of plant roots.
Having issues with animals in your garden? Learn more in the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester 2026 Home Garden Lecture Series: Structural Defensive Gardening.

Wednesday, May. 13 from 10 to 11 am, remote on Zoom, $5. All lectures are remote on Zoom. A ticket to any single remote lecture is $5 and the tour is $20 (while there is space).

Speaker: Louis Petralia is a Westchester CCE Master Gardener Volunteer, as well as an attorney, teach ad lawn enthusiast. As a CCE Master Gardener Volunteer, he spends his time working the Demonstration Garden at Hart’s Brook Park and Preserve in Hartsdale, NY.

Check out the brochure at https://www.canva.com/design/DAG37gykNic/RGq-kIdH95APY6-bKoGQYw/view?utm_content=DAG37gykNic&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=hcc45ab7c29 For more information, please call CCE at 914-285-4640, 914-285-4620 or email westchester@cornell.edu

Last updated April 11, 2026