April is a big month for growers and gardeners around the world. Spring arrives, but more importantly, Earth Day is celebrated on April 22^nd each year. For many, Earth Day is a silly holiday which encourages people to respect the environment, plant more trees, etc. In reality, however, Earth Day has truly brought some great change to our world. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was established because of Earth Day, in addition to the passage of things like the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and the Clean Air Act. Earth Day represents just how precious our land is and how important it is to keep planting to produce the crops that we depend on to survive.

In the spirit of recognizing April as a wonderful month to focus on your green thumb, we’ve created a checklist for growers and gardeners. This month, pay attention to the following:

• Concentrate on managing weeds
• Prune any fig trees
• In northern states, beware of late frost damaging your fruits
• Feed your citrus plants
• Remove faded daffodils
• Mulch generously around your trees
• Check on your tree ties to make sure rocking doesn’t take place
• Sow carrots, beetroot, broccoli, peas, and winter cabbages
• Shift focus to your lawn – apply fertilizers and remove any perennial weeds
• Feed roses and shrubs
• Keep an eye on daily rainfall and water if necessary

April is the time for growers to take advantage of a great change in weather. Unfortunately, April can also be a tricky time, as some regions in the country are still feeling the effects of the winter season. Be sure to create a feeding, watering, and mulching schedule that works for you and your crops.