What to Expect From Your Evergreen in April
Last updated: Mar 31 2023
Key takeaways
As temperatures warm in April, evergreens begin producing fresh spring growth, making it an ideal time to inspect plants and begin seasonal maintenance.
Start fertilizing evergreens in spring to support healthy new foliage, and water deeply during dry periods, especially for newly planted trees and shrubs.
Check mulch around the base of evergreens, maintaining a layer that conserves moisture while keeping it several inches away from the trunk to prevent disease.
What are your evergreens doing right now?
Rain, rain, go away! April is a big month for transitioning plants. In some areas, you’ll be planting, while in other areas, you’ll be battling fungal issues from wet conditions. Focusing on water and how it flows through your soil is key right now. Here’s what to expect from your evergreens in April:
Inspect Your Trees
- If you experienced any winter bronzing, expect your tree to be back to its normal color by now. Winter bronzing is when the foliage of the plant gets cold and turns an orange color. This will not happen on all evergreens, and Arborvitae trees like thujas tend to be more sensitive to bronzing than other trees.
- It will be obvious at this point if you have any broken branches caused by winter weather. Take a walk around your yard, and if you do find any dead or dying branches, simply cut them back.
- Avoid pruning at this time since you don’t want to cut off new growth that’s beginning to emerge.
Winter bronzing
Prepare for Growth
- Water your trees well to encourage and support growth, and adjust your watering schedule depending on your local rainfall.
- Now is the time to fertilize your trees so they’ll get a strong start for the season! Even established trees will benefit from an all-purpose evergreen fertilizer.
Keep Growing
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Written by
Sarah Logie
As Content Strategist at Trees.com, Sarah is smitten with words and a fanatic for flowers, particularly cut florals and house plants. With a love for curating compelling content, she also enjoys furthering her plant knowledge along the way! A few of her favorite flowers include hibiscus, hydrangeas, peonies and dahlias.
Sarah’s fondness for plants was cultivated through many childhood trips to Longwood Gardens in southeastern Pennsylvania, as well as through her first job out of college at a floral event design company. In her free time, catch her snapping photos of anything and everything, day-dreaming about interior decor, and enjoying the outdoors any chance she gets.
