Mid-April Tasks That Make May Magic

Mulching, Edging, and Spotting Self-Seeders (aka your surprise garden guests)

April in the garden is a little like waking up before your alarm—but in a good way. The light is gentler, the soil is warming, and everything’s yawning and stretching toward the sun. It’s not quite full bloom yet, but the energy? Oh, it’s stirring. If you’re feeling that itch to do something out there, you’re right on time.

This week, we’re giving some love to the garden’s edges and layers: literally and metaphorically. We’re mulching, we’re edging, and we’re playing garden detective by spotting self-seeders that popped up while we were still in flannel pyjamas.

1. Mulch Like You Mean It (But Not Too Much)

Let’s start with mulch, the unsung hero of spring prep. Done well, it’s like a cozy blanket for your soil—keeping moisture in, weeds out, and your whole bed looking like it has its life together.

🪵 What kind of mulch?
For perennials, ornamental grasses, and ferns, go with a natural shredded bark mulch (cedar or pine) or composted leaf mulch if you can get your hands on it. It breaks down nicely, feeds your soil, and smells like a walk in the woods.

🪴 How much is too much?
Two to three inches is your goldilocks zone. Too little and weeds will laugh in your face. Too much and your plants might suffocate under there like they’re trapped under a weighted blanket in July.

🐌 Pro tip:
Pull mulch a couple of inches back from crowns and stems. You don’t want to invite rot or snoozing slugs.

2. Edging: The Garden’s Version of a Fresh Haircut

You know that feeling after you get a trim and suddenly your whole face looks brighter? That’s what a clean garden edge does for your beds.

Grab your edging tool (or a sharp spade—no shame), and carve a crisp line between your garden beds and lawn. This helps keep mulch where it belongs and gives everything a tidy, polished look, even if there’s still a stray dandelion or two doing its thing.

🧤 Pro tip:
Edge before you mulch. That way your new mulch layer tucks neatly into your freshly cut line, like sheets on a hotel bed. Very satisfying.

3. Spotting Self-Seeders: Garden Serendipity

Now for the treasure hunt.

April is when self-seeders start showing their baby faces—tiny green sprouts nestled in cracks, gravel, or right between two prized peonies. These are the plants that dropped seed last fall and decided to grow wherever the wind (or a squirrel) took them.

🌱 Friends or foes?
Some are garden gifts—think columbine, feverfew, nigella, or lady’s mantle. Others might be overly enthusiastic—like forget-me-nots that forget boundaries.

✨ What to do?

• ID the seedling if you can: If it’s something you love, transplant it to a better spot.

• If it’s not your style: Gently weed it out now while it’s still tiny and smug.

• Still not sure? Let it grow a bit until it tells you who it is. Gardeners are detectives, after all.

Bonus: Let the Garden Tell You What's Next

The thing about mid-April is that it’s not just about what you want to do—it’s also about what the garden is hinting at. Notice what’s coming up strong, where the moisture lingers, which edges need reinforcing. This is the season of groundwork, and a little care now means less work (and more wine-on-the-patio time) later.

So roll up those sleeves, get a little dirt under your nails, and don’t worry if it’s not perfect. The beauty is in the doing—and the occasional surprise daisy popping up where you didn’t plant it.