Here in Zone 5b, April always feels like a month of transition.
The weather begins to warm, trees slowly fill with leaves, and those first perennials start pushing their way up through the soil. It’s an exciting time—but as every gardener knows, it doesn’t always go exactly as planned.
Here’s a look at what April brought to my garden this year.
Starting Seeds
Typically, I start the bulk of my seeds in March—but this year, everything shifted into April.
The delay came from replacing our greenhouse. We began the process in early March, but between unpredictable weather and family commitments, the setup happened in small increments. Once the structure was finally up, we hit another minor delay with the heater. Nothing major—just enough to push planting back even further.
By the time everything was ready, it was already April 18th.
Thankfully, that day turned into something special. Family and friends came out to help—some planting seeds, others finishing the final greenhouse touches. It was one of those full, messy, productive days that reminds you how much joy there is in the process.
We’re still working on building new tables for the greenhouse, but the seedlings are up, growing, and doing well.
Weather
If you garden in Wisconsin, you already know—April weather is all over the place.
We had temperature swings from the 80s during the day to freezing at night. On top of that, a full week of rain brought strong storms and even tornadoes to the area. Our yard saw some flooding, and while we were fortunate to avoid major damage, we did lose a few trees.
Needless to say, spring cleanup in the landscaping beds got pushed back. It’s now officially a “May project.”
Garden Progress
Once the storms passed, I was finally able to direct sow a few early crops.
Radishes, snow peas, cilantro, and a handful of other cool-weather plants are already off to a great start. April really is the perfect window for getting these crops established before the heat of summer sets in.
Weeds
Of course, all that rain combined with warm days and cool nights creates ideal conditions—not just for plants, but for weeds too.
This month, I:
- Applied crabgrass preventer for the first time (we’ll see how it goes!)
- Mixed up my first batch of homemade weed killer to tackle the dandelions popping up everywhere
- Applied milk spore to help control Japanese beetles later in the season
Honestly, I almost forgot about the timing for the milk spore—but a quick look back at my Monthly Tasks page reminded me. I was able to squeeze it in between storms, and I’m so glad I did.
Why I Rely on The Garden Book
Spring is when I appreciate my garden planner the most.
I’ve already looked back at last year’s entries several times—checking frost dates, comparing weather patterns, and reminding myself what worked (and what didn’t). It takes so much of the guesswork out of the season.
It’s also helping me stay on track this year. Even with delays and unpredictable weather, I can clearly see what still needs to be done.
One page I’ve been using a lot lately is the Next Month section. I’ve started mapping out:
- Which annuals I want to buy
- Where I plan to plant them
- Any April tasks that didn’t get finished
Writing it all down now means nothing gets forgotten when May inevitably gets busy.
Looking Ahead
April may not have gone exactly as planned—but in gardening, that’s often where the best lessons come from.
Now I’m looking ahead to May, with growing seedlings, a longer to-do list, and plenty of excitement for what’s next.
How do you use your garden planner this time of year? What do you find most helpful during the spring season?
