Nature and Animals

April in Your Southwest Florida Yard

  • April 2026

WHAT TO PLANT

Annuals/Perennials/Wildflowers: Liven up plant beds with heat-tolerant bloomers such as cannas, coleus, vinca, and portulaca.

Annuals: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topics/annuals

Perennials: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topics/perennials

Florida Wildflower Foundation: https://www.flawildflowers.org/

Herbs: Some herbs to plant now include basil and mint.

Herbs: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topics/herbs

Vegetables: Beans, Chinese cabbage, Southern peas, and sweet potatoes can still be planted. Mulch beds well and monitor irrigation if the weather is dry.

Vegetable Gardening in Florida: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topics/vegetable_gardening

WHAT TO DO

Plant for Butterflies: Plant flowers of different colors, shapes, sizes, and blooming seasons to provide nectar for adult butterflies and provide host plants for their caterpillars.

Butterfly/Pollinator Gardening: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topics/butterfly_pollinator_gardening

Pests – Monitor insect activity and learn which bugs damage plants and which do not.

Lawn and Garden Care: Pest Management: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topics/lawn-garden-pest-management

Beneficial insects – Identify and conserve the good guys! Some insects play a key role in pest management and should be encouraged in your yard!

Beneficial Insects: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topics/beneficial_insects

Tomatoes – Watch for pests, disease, and nutritional disorders on developing tomato plants.

Tomato Gardening: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topics/tomato-gardening

Palms – Identify and treat environmental and nutritional disorders in palm trees.

Palm Care: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topics/palm-care

Oleanders – Inspect chewed or ragged leaves for oleander caterpillars at work.

Oleander Pest Management: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topics/oleander-pest-management

Fruits – Propagate fruit crops by air layering and grafting.

HS1349/HS1349: Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Propagation: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS1349

Divide – Clumps of bulbs, ornamental grasses, or herbaceous perennials can be divided now to expand or rejuvenate garden beds or to pass along to friends.

Bulbs for Florida: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topics/bulbous_flowers

Perennials: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topics/perennials

Shrubs – Choose from a wide variety of shrubs to add to the landscape now. Remember “Right Plant/Right Place” and match the mature size with the location.

The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Guide to Plant Selection and Landscape Design: https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/media/fflifasufledu/docs/FFL-Plant-Guide_v030624_web.pdf

Shrubs: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topics/shrubs

Frangipani/Plumeria Rust – This common fungus disease is active during warm months and first appears as orange-yellow pustules on the backsides of leaves. Remove and dispose of all infected leaves and any on the ground. Rust will not kill the plant but can defoliate it.