Woodie’s Picks: April Standouts in the Landscape
Forget the saying, "April showers bring May flowers" — why wait when you can enjoy stunning blooms now? April is an underrated yet breathtaking time for the spring garden, offering vibrant colors and fresh growth. In this blog, we highlight four of our favorite plants that shine in the April landscape, along with essential spring gardening tips to help you kick off the season.
Getting Your Garden Started This Spring
Spring Cleanup
The first step to a thriving garden this season is starting with a clean slate. Now is the perfect time to rake up dead leaves, remove winter debris, and de-weed your garden beds and planters. Clearing out old plant matter allows fresh growth to flourish while reducing the risk of pests and diseases.
Soil Preparation
Once your planting area is clear, it’s time to prep your soil! As soon as the ground has thawed, amend it with compost or other organic matter to improve drainage and boost soil fertility. Healthy soil is the foundation of a successful garden and ensures your plants get the nutrients they need to thrive.
Planting
Saved the best for last! With your garden beds prepared, you’re ready to plant cold-hardy annuals, perennials, trees, and shrubs. Now, you need to choose the perfect plants to enhance your landscape!
Four Must-Have April Landscape Plants
Eastern Redbud Tree
An absolute standout in the spring garden, the Eastern Redbud Tree is a must-have for any landscape. Blooming from late March into April, its bare branches are covered in clusters of rosy-pink to reddish-purple flowers.
Once the blooms fade, lush heart-shaped green leaves emerge, providing beauty through the fall. Hardy in USDA zones 4-9, this native tree is cold-tolerant, adaptable, and fast-growing, reaching 20-30 feet tall. The Eastern Redbud is the perfect statement tree for front yard landscaping.
Show Off Starlet Forsythia
If you want to make a bold statement, look no further than the Show Off Starlet Forsythia! This compact, easy-care shrub delivers a vibrant display of golden-yellow blooms in March and April.
As a Proven Winners dwarf variety, it grows just 2-3 feet tall, making it ideal for small gardens, patios, and containers. Hardy in zones 5-8, this deer-resistant shrub thrives in various conditions, ensuring effortless spring color.
Harvester Peach Tree
Before you enjoy delicious peaches, relish in the beauty of the Harvester Peach Tree's vibrant pink spring blossoms.
With stunning flowers that radiate joy throughout the landscape, this tree is both ornamental and productive.
Hardy in zones 6-9, it flourishes in full sun and well-drained soil. As one of the highest-yielding peach trees, this self-pollinating fruit tree provides fresh, juicy peaches and seasonal beauty from spring through fall.
PJM Rhododendron
Nothing makes an early April statement like the PJM Rhododendron! With eye-catching lavender-pink flowers and rich evergreen foliage, this versatile shrub adds year-round interest to your garden.
Thriving in zones 4-8, the PJM Rhododendron is known for its adaptability, tolerating partial shade and acidic soils. Whether used in borders, hedges, foundation plantings, or as an accent shrub, it provides a striking pop of color when most plants are just waking up from winter.
Shop April Landscape Plants Online
April is truly a magical time for gardening, and these standout plants prove that you don’t have to wait until May for breathtaking blooms! With a little spring garden cleanup, soil preparation, and thoughtful planting, your landscape can burst into life with color and lush foliage this season.
Ready to get planting? Browse our selection of spring-blooming landscape plants online and bring the beauty of spring to your yard today!