April 2026

Your newsletter this month features what to do in the landscape, what's blooming now, upcoming workshops, and more!

Apr 10, 2026

Welcome to April in Your Central Florida Yard!

If you are not sure what to do in your central Florida yard at this time (or any time) of year, contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Plant Clinic and we can help!

Also, consider getting yourself educated at one of our workshops. Make sure to check our event page for any updates and new workshops added.

Have you been staying up-to-date with our monthly podcast, Your Central Florida Yard? Subscribe, rate, and review if you enjoy it!

Let us know how we can help by contacting our Plant Clinic with your questions or visit a with a Master Gardener Volunteer at a local farmer’s market booth or community event.

Happy Gardening!

Your Central Florida Yard Monthly Checklist

Your Lawn in April

If applying a spring fertilizer, choose a fertilizer with little or no phosphorus unless your lawn is deficient (indicated on a soil test).
Do not apply a weed and feed product. Fertilizers and herbicides are not applied at the same time of year to be effective. Save money and protect plants by spot-treating weeds as needed.
Check your sprinkler system for uniform coverage and repair any broken heads.
Don’t forget that sometimes dry spots can be mistaken for pest damage-make sure you know what “that brown spot” is before you determine the treatment.

Your Landscape in April

Continue to monitor your plants for pests and disease.
Divide clumping perennials, ornamental grasses, and bulbs.
Add pollinator plants to your landscape. Find a list here.
Plant herbs and vegetables among your ornamental plants. Learn more about landscaping with edibles here.

What’s Blooming Now?

Check out the April blooms at the UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Demonstration Garden in Bartow.

Don’t forget that the gardens are open every day and we welcome you to visit!

Current blooms in the Florida-Friendly Landscaping demo garden includes red-orange tubular flowers of coral honeysuckle, yellow umbels of dill, red spikes of coral bean tree, and light purple spikes of pickerel weed..

Clockwise from top left: coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), dill (Anethum graveolens), coral bean (Erythrina herbacea), and pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata).

Update: New watering rules as a part of Phase 3 Water Shortage starting April 3, 2026.

Watering is limited to one day per week.
The once-per-week watering restriction applies to all residences, businesses, common areas, those with private wells, and those using reclaimed water.
Hand watering and microirrigation of plants (other than lawns) can be done on any day but is limited to before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
Lawn/high-volume watering times: 12:01 a.m. to 8 a.m. OR 6 p.m. to 11:59 p.m for properties less than one acre.
Always check with your city or county for allowable day and times.
Car washing at home (non-commercial) is only allowed on your watering day and you must use a hose with a shutoff nozzle.
Aesthetic fountains and other water features may only operate 4 hours per day.
HOAs may not enforce community standards that would require an increase in water usage such as pressure washing of driveways or replacement of plant material to meet aesthetic standards.

For more info on current watering restrictions visit the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s website.

Gardening Workshops

Join UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Gardening and Landscaping experts at our monthly workshops! For full workshop descriptions and to register, go to: http://polkcountyextension.eventbrite.com

Growing Blueberries in Your Central Florida Yard
Monday, April 13, 10:00 am
Winter Haven Public Library
Register here

Introduction to Home Composting
Tuesday, April 28, 10:00 am
Lakeland Public Library
Register here

Come Chat Plants With Us!

Bloom Garden Festival
Saturday and Sunday, April 11 &12 at Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland

Local Farmer’s Markets:
Winter Haven: Second Saturdays of the month—April 11

Lakeland: Third Saturdays of the month—April 18

Lake Wales: Fourth Saturdays of the month—April 25

Plant Local (formerly The Nectary Nursery): Fourth Saturdays of the month—April 25

Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

This month on Your Central Florida Yard podcast…
Native Milkweed for Your Central Florida Yard

Listen here:

Available on most podcast platforms.

The podcast from UF/IFAS Extension Polk County, Your Central Florida Yard is here to help you successfully garden in this unique part of the state. New episodes are out the first week of every month.

For show notes, transcripts, and links, visit our website.

Listen Now!