Learn about the many complex interactions that take place in a garden ecosystem—who is eating whom, what effects does a given plant or animal have on its environment? We will never, however, be able to perceive, understand or control all that is going on. A prudent approach is to assume that, generally, more diversity is better. Try to grow the greatest variety of plants you can—tall, short, perennial, annual, deep- or shallow-rooted, flowering in different months, different colors, seedy, fruity, rooty, live, dead, etc. Each will provide habitat and food for different creatures. You don’t need to know what they are all doing to appreciate the results of their work.

For plant lists and full details on gardening in April, order your copy of Seattle Tilth's Maritime Northwest Garden Guide, a planning calendar for year-round organic gardening.