April Tips

101 Ways to Celebrate National Garden Month

Plan and Plant

Design and plant a garden to attract pollinators. Click here to learn more.
Plant a cutting garden so you can enjoy freshly cut bouquets all season long. For some guidance, click here.

Other Ways to Celebrate

In Your Community

Plan and Plant

Dig Deeper and Branch Out

It's About Good Food

New Techniques and Timely To-Do's
Plant herbs for making your own herbal tea (try mints, bee balm, or chamomile). Click here for some advice.
Plant a peace garden.
Plant a kitchen garden near your back door with greens and herbs for convenient harvesting. Click here for guidance.
Design and plant a bird-friendly garden. Click here to learn more.
Grow a "multicultural" garden. Click here to read about one inspiring community project.
Grow a fragrance garden; include aromatic plants such as heliotrope, oriental lilies, nicotiana, and stock. Click here for some history of fragrant plants and ideas for using them.
Plant a wildflower meadow. Click here to learn how.
Get a window box and fill with brightly colored annual flowers. Click here for some help getting started.
Work with a child to grow a giant pumpkin, hibiscus, or other flashy plant for entry in the county fair, or just for fun. Click here for some tips on growing your biggest pumpkin yet.
Plant a rose bush or two, and learn how to keep them healthy and blooming. Click here for some rose-growing essentials.
Make a tepee for growing vining beans or flowers such as morning glory. Click here for ways to involve kids in the project.
Try planting new vegetables or varieties that are new to you — purple kohlrabi, golden beets, or blue potatoes.
Grow a big, bold, tropical flowering plant, such as bougainvillea, brugmansia, or mandevilla. Luscious descriptions and growing instructions can be found by clicking here.
Grow plants that provide natural pigments and try a fabric dyeing project. Click here for suggestions of plants to use and directions for extracting the color.
Build a pond in a tub or in the ground. Click here for a primer about a pond ecosystem and things to consider.
Plant a garden to attract native butterflies. Click here for a list of perennials and shrubs that put out the welcome mat.
Plant flowers that bloom at dusk, including moonflower, night-blooming phlox, and evening primrose.
Garden at your workplace.
Plant a garden that reflects your family's or the region's cultural heritage.
Grow healing herbs such as calendula and comfrey, and make your own healing salves and tinctures.

101 Ways to Celebrate National Garden Month

New Techniques and Timely To-Do's

Encourage beneficial insects by planting herbs and flowers throughout your gardens. For more on beneficial insects click here.
Propagate your favorite shrubs, perennials, and trees to put elsewhere on your property or to donate to a greening organization. To learn about propagating perennials through division, click here.

Other Ways to Celebrate

In Your Community

Plan and Plant

Dig Deeper and Branch Out

It's About Good Food

New Techniques and Timely To-Do's
Incorporate as many native plants as possible into your landscape. For more information, visit the National Wildlife Foundation’s Backyard Habitat site.
Get to know your lawn as a garden of grass. Discover what kind of turfgrass you have and what kind of care it needs for best results. You’ll find lawn care guidance here.
Research least-toxic pest and weed control methods. Click here for tips on vegetable garden pest control.
Learn about the benefits of compost tea, and brew your own. Click here to find out more.
Create a pruning calendar/map for your yard.
Start a worm composting bin, indoors or out. To learn more about worm composting, click here.
Test your soil so that you can add just what your plants need to thrive. Click here to learn more about soil testing.
Learn to use fertilizer properly to protect the water supply from nutrient pollution. For basic information and tips on building soil fertility, click here.
Start a compost pile. To learn how, click here.
Learn about organic gardening, and give it a try. Click here to learn more about it.
Learn about water saving techniques and tools. For watering tips, click here.
Clean your gardening tools; oil wooden handles, tighten heads, and sharpen blades. Click here for step-by-step instructions for sharpening and cleaning your garden tools.
Cut back on lawn mowing by incorporating groundcovers, expanded perennial beds, even moss, to your lawn. For instructions on planting groundcovers, click here.
Vow to minimize pesticide use to protect wildlife, the water supply, and human health. A low-maintenance landscape needs little intervention. Click here to learn more about creating one.

April Tips

101 Ways to Celebrate National Garden Month

Plan and Plant

Other Ways to Celebrate

101 Ways to Celebrate National Garden Month

New Techniques and Timely To-Do's

Other Ways to Celebrate