Skip to Content

April Flowers and Zone 8 Gardening Tips

Lavender

It has been a busy month here in Magnolia Land. There has been so much to do in the yard and garden. Getting the landscape ready for summer is important to make sure it does well. The hot summers here in the South take a toll on plants. It is best to get plants strong in the spring with maintenance, feeding, and watering. Here are a few things I have done:

  • Fertilized the flower beds
  • Spread weed preventer in the flower beds
  • Trimmed shrubs
  • Added a fresh layer of much in the flower beds
  • Checked the irrigation system to make sure it runs properly
  • Planted annuals and herbs in containers
  • Moved houseplants outside

Checking those off the to-do list felt good. Actually doing those things felt good. I really enjoy being outside gardening and digging in the dirt. I have more items on the list and some are:

  • Check outdoor plants for scales or bugs and treat accordingly
  • Remove guide wires from recently planted trees
  • Plant annuals and vegetables in the garden
  • Fertilize warm season lawns and thatch or aerate as needed
  • Plant or divide perennials

There is much to do in April for zone 8. For a complete list go to these websites: Walter Reeves and Gardenality.

I have taken lots of pictures along with my gardening. I want to capture the beauty of the flowers as they bloom. Plus it is a part of my Project 365. Each day brings a new photo opportunity. It is fun and challenging to do. Now I get to look back on all the pretty flowers like the lavender above and my gorgeous Chinese Snowball Viburnum:

Chinese Snowball Viburnum

Hot pink dianthus brightened up one side of my flower bed:

Pink Dianthus

Then came the first bloom of a newly planted snowflake viburnum:

Snowflake Viburnum

And I put together this container of succulents:

Succulents

Next to the dianthus is a bright yellow daylily:

Yellow Daylily Bloom

Part of the front yard was transformed also. We had an area where grass would not grow. Last year we took out the remaining sprigs of grass, re-worked it to be a part of the flower bed, and only covered it with pine straw. This is how it looked at the first of March:

Front Bed Before

We added a bunch of plants and a good layer of mulch and the result is:

Front Beds After

Grow little plants grow! What have you done in your garden lately? Are you ready for summer?

Subscribe to Magnolia Days by Email

Mary @ Going Native

Tuesday 24th of April 2012

You have a lovely garden. I have many of the same plants here in Michigan, but they don't start blooming until June. I really like your succulent container. Beautiful use of pot, stones, and plants.

Renee

Tuesday 24th of April 2012

Thank you! I found the pot for the succulents at Lowes and the rocks at Garden Ridge. I thought it came together nicely.

Karen (Back Road Journal)

Sunday 22nd of April 2012

It is so nice to have before and after photos of our gardens. I've enjoyed your post.

Renee

Sunday 22nd of April 2012

I have done some before and after photos but not quite as organized as the ones I did for this post. It was great to see the difference side by side. I want to take more over the years as the plants grow.

amy @ fearless homemaker

Tuesday 17th of April 2012

lovely flowers! we've been doing a lot of work in our yard, too - i need to get out the big camera + snap some shots of it - i'm getting lazy about simply taking phone pics rather than getting some great DSLR ones!

Renee

Tuesday 17th of April 2012

Oh you should take good photos of your flowers and plants! You can look back and see all the beauty (and share it too).

Terry B Gardner (@tbgdesign)

Tuesday 17th of April 2012

Love the before and after shot!

Renee

Tuesday 17th of April 2012

Thank you!