What to Do in Your San Diego Yard This April
April is a transitional month in Southern California — warm enough to begin serious planting, but still mild enough to finish key spring tasks. Here’s a checklist tailored to San Diego’s coastal desert climate to keep your garden growing strong through spring.
1. Harden Off Summer Vegetables
Transition tender seedlings like tomatoes and peppers from indoors to outdoors. Place them in partial sun and gradually expose them to more light and temperature changes over a week to prepare for planting.
2. Feed Container Plants
Container plants — especially citrus, herbs, and flowering patio plants — need fresh nutrients. Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer now and re-feed every 2–4 weeks for continued blooms and growth.
3. Prune Winter Bloomers
Trim back plants like bougainvillea, camellias, and Mexican sage that finished blooming in late winter. This encourages new growth and better shaping heading into the hotter months.
4. Encourage Fruiting
If you have citrus or avocado trees, now is the time to feed and deep-water them. Apply citrus-specific fertilizer and soak root zones every 2–3 weeks to support flowering and eventual fruiting.
Checking off these small tasks in April will prepare your San Diego yard for the long, dry summer ahead — and make the most of our beautiful spring weather.