April Yard and Garden Tips (http://www.clemson.edu/laurens)
Watch out for: Fruits
•Fireblight - inspect fruit trees for fireblight. If you had problems with fireblight last year, you will need to spray your blooms this year to prevent the spread. The best defense is a fireblight-resistant variety. See Fireblight for more information.
Lawns
•Lawn diseases - it’s time to begin watching for problems with brown patch and dollar spot in warm season grasses, especially if you had problems with one of them last year. See Brown Patch Disease of Lawns and Leaf Diseases of Lawns for more information.
•Chinch bugs - watch for chinch bugs in your warm season lawn. See Chinch Bugs for more information.
•White grubs - the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis does a nice job on Japanese Beetle grubs, but it does take a little time to build up in the soil. Bacillus thuringiensis does not, however, control other types of grubs. See White Grub Management in Turfgrass for more information.
Vegetables
•Garden insects - keep an eye out for corn earworm and cucumber beetle in the garden. See Insect Pests of Sweet Corn and Cucumber, Squash, Melon & Other Cucurbit Insect Pests for more information.
Things to do:
Flowers
•Bulbs - you should be planting your summer- and fall-flowering bulbs in April and May, such as dahlias, gladioli , cannas, and lilies. Be sure to plant after the soil temperature reaches 55 degrees F. See Summer- and Fall-Flowering Bulbs for more information
•Dividing - it’s time to divide fall blooming perennials. See Dividing Perennials for more information.
Fruits
•Spray fruit trees - it’s time to begin spraying your fruit trees with a fungicide (Captan, etc.) every 7 to 10 days to provide the beautiful fruit you look forward to. Do not use any insecticides on the trees until less than 10% of the blooms remain - you certainly do not want to hurt your bee pollinators. The fungicide will have no effect on them.
Lawns
•Add iron - centipede and St. Augustine lawns will appreciate an application of iron this month to bring out a richer green color without stimulating excessive growth. See Fertilizing Lawns for more information.
•Fire ants - if you broadcast baits, apply your first treatment during the last week of April or the first week few weeks of May. Be sure to apply fresh bait, and do it at the correct time of day (fire ants only forage actively when the ground temperature is between 70 and 95 degrees F). (See Fire Ant Management in the Home Lawn for more information.)
•Lawn Establishment - if you plan to plant a warm-season (centipede, zoysia, Bermuda, St. Augustine) lawn, the best time to plant is in the spring and summer. If you are planting Bermuda by seed, use the hulled seed at this time of year (you can seed with unhulled seed in the fall). Wait until next fall for cool-season grasses (fescue). See Lawn Establishment for more information.
•Nutsedge or “nutgrass” - nutsedge is very difficult to control. There are two main types in our area - purple and yellow. You must identify which you have before you begin treatment. Herbicides must be applied when the nutsedge is actively growing, which means decent soil moisture and warm conditions. See Nutsedge for more information.
•Irrigation - you may begin irrigating late this month if we have a dry spring. See the Home and Garden Center’s irrigation publications for more information, especially the publication on Irrigation Time of Day. Spring and fall are good times for disease to blossom, so do not allow your irrigation scheduling to increase these problems. One inch per week is the appropriate amount for most lawns and vegetables (except sweet corn and yellow squash, which may require up to two inches depending on growth stage). Include rainfall in this amount, and see How Much Water to determine how much water you are actually applying.
Ponds
•Pond fertilization - if your pond needs fertilization this month is a good time. Do not fertilize within 4 to 6 weeks of liming the pond. See Fertilizing Recreational Fish Ponds for more information.
Trees
•Tree fertilization - April is a good month to fertilize trees. See Fertilizing Trees and Shrubs for more information.
Vegetables
•Vegetables - There is a lessening chance of frost in April (see SC Frost Dates), so many folks want to get an early start on the vegetable garden. Some planting times for more common vegetables (see Planning a Garden for a full list and planting depths and spacings):
-- Cantaloupe - Apr. 15 - May 15
-- Cucumbers - Apr. 15 - May 15
-- Melons - Apr. 20 - Jun. 30
-- Squash - Apr. 15 - May 15
-- Snap, Pole, & Half-runner beans - Apr. 15 - 30
-- Sweet corn - Apr. 15 - 30
All pamphlets referenced in this calendar may be found online: http://www.clemson.edu/hgic.
The Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.
Piedmont Technical College Diversified Agriculture and Horticulture Technology students achieve outstanding results at 2026 National Collegiate Landscape Competition
Four standout students from the Piedmont Technical College (PTC) School of Agriculture recently returned from the National Collegiate Landscape Competition with outstanding results.
Their achievements show that PTC’s Diversified Agriculture and Horticulture Technology programs remain powerhouses in their respective industries.
Held on the campus of Michigan State University from March 17–20, the 50th annual National Collegiate Landscape Competition brought together 726 competitors from two- and four-year colleges and universities across the country.
The PTC team consisted of students Andrew Jewell, Ian McCoy, Marquise Gantt and Emma McCaffrey.
They were led by School of Agriculture Instructor and coach Andrew Warner.
The performance of Jewell and McCoy in the technical irrigation categories highlighted the week. The pair finished third in Irrigation Troubleshooting and fifth in Irrigation Assembly.
PTC’s team competed in a total of 11 events, finishing in the Top 20 in six of those categories. Their diverse expertise was on full display in:
•Technical Skills: Arboriculture Techniques, Irrigation Assembly and Irrigation Troubleshooting.
•Heavy Equipment: Compact Excavator Operation and Mini Track Loader Operation.
•Design & Estimation: Computer-Aided Landscape Design, Interior Landscape Design and Construction Cost Estimating.
•Field Operations: Landscape Maintenance Operations, Landscape Plant Installation and Safety First.
Individually, the team’s performance was equally impressive, with McCoy achieving a 10th place overall finish.
“Our students proved this week that they aren’t just learning, they are mastering their respective industries,” said PTC School of Agriculture Department Head Jeremy Brooks. “Watching them compete at this level against the best programs in the country and seeing Ian break into the National Top 10 is a testament to their dedication and the quality of our curriculum at PTC.”
This successful trip was made possible through the generous support of AgFirst Farm Credit Bank. Its sponsorship provided the essential funds for travel, lodging and registration, allowing these students to showcase their talents on a national stage.
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About Piedmont Technical College:
Piedmont Technical College (PTC) is a comprehensive two-year college offering hands-on training in the latest technologies and exacting skill sets that are most sought after by employers in our region. PTC contributes to the economic growth and development of the largest region of the South Carolina Technical College System, including Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry, and Saluda counties, generating an annual economic impact of $349 million. Throughout the region, PTC serves around 8,500 students annually. For more information, visit www.ptc.edu
THE POLITICS OF AGRICULTURE
Trump-endorsed candidate for SC ag commissioner breaks fundraising record in 49 days
Big-name donors give Cody Simpson a fundraising advantage in the unusually crowded race
BY: ADRIAN ASHFORD - APRIL 10, 2026 10:28 AM
COLUMBIA — A candidate for agriculture commissioner, who got President Donald Trump’s endorsement before he even entered the race, has broken fundraising records for the typically low-profile position with the help of some of South Carolina’s biggest names.
Cody Simpson, former agriculture adviser to Gov. Henry McMaster, collected almost $410,000 in 49 days, plus received about $32,000 worth of non-cash donations, according to his first quarterly fundraising report, submitted Thursday.
Simpson’s campaign touts that tops records set by retiring Commissioner Hugh Weathers for both a quarter and entire election cycle.
The campaign pointed to Weathers’ fundraising for the 2022 GOP primary, when he reported about $136,000 raised in the fourth quarter of 2021 and $317,050 total for the cycle. Weathers, who’s led the agency for nearly 22 years, easily beat two GOP challengers in his last election.
Simpson’s contributor list reads like a who’s who in South Carolina politics and business.
They include former Wall Street financier-turned-philanthropist Darla Moore of Lake City, who gave $1,000; another major philanthropist Anita Zucker, CEO of InterTech Group, who gave $1,500; and Columbia developer Bill Stern, chairman of the state Ports Authority’s board, who gave the $3,500 maximum both personally and through his business.
Moore, the namesake of the University of South Carolina’s business school, is a major benefactor for schools across South Carolina. Her philanthropy includes funding scholarships at Francis Marion University, where Simpson received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Funding from the Darla Moore Foundation supports a new bachelor’s degree in forestry at the public university in Florence starting this fall.
The president of Simpson’s alma mater, Fred Carter, also gave $1,000.
Other donors to Simpson’s campaign include Columbia attorney Henry McMaster Jr., the governor’s son, who gave $2,500.
Gov. McMaster threw his “full endorsement and support” behind Simpson in early February. Within hours, Trump followed with his own endorsement, urging Simpson to run. Simpson officially launched his bid two weeks later.
Simpson left McMaster’s office as chief executive assistant last May to take a Trump administration appointment as the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency’s executive director for South Carolina. He left that job to seek election to lead the state Department of Agriculture.
Other big names donating to Simpson include former House Speaker David Wilkins, the former U.S. ambassador to Canada; Jean Leatherman, wife of the late Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman; and Rose Newton, wife of House Judiciary Chairman Weston Newton. Each of them gave $1,000.
Millionaire businessman Rom Reddy, a Republican running for governor; and Greenville developer Wallace Cheves also chipped in with the maximum-per-cycle $3,500. Builder Stewart Mungo, of Mungo Homes, gave $1,500.
Simpson said he’s “truly honored” by the support. But what truly matters to him, he said, is that “everybody now is talking about South Carolina agriculture.”
The down-ballot race has become unusually competitive.
Simpson is among four Republicans competing for the GOP nomination to replace Weathers.
Until January, Fred West of Batesburg-Leesville was the only announced candidate. West works as director of market development at the Department of Agriculture and was a longtime executive at the poultry processing company Amick Farms. Weathers endorsed him last spring. West’s fourth-quarter report shows he collected about $187,000 in donations through Dec. 31.
Clarendon County farmer Jeremy Cannon launched his bid in January, emphasizing his lifetime of farming experience in rural Turbeville.
Danny Ford II of Central, son of Clemson University’s first national championship football coach, jumped in the race after Simpson in February.
The winner of the four-way GOP primary June 9 will face Democrat DeShawn Blanding and two minor-party candidates in November. Blanding, of Manning, is a former policy analyst for the U.S. House Agriculture Committee.
Simpson is so far the only candidate to file first-quarter fundraising numbers. Candidates have until Wednesday to file reports for the quarter ending March 31.
It’s been 16 years since a Democrat was on the ballot. The last Democrat in the job, Leslie Tindal, switched parties during his third term, then retired in 2002 after 20 years in the role. Weathers was appointed to the position in 2004 by then-Gov. Mark Sanford after Charles Sharpe, a former Aiken County legislator, was indicted on federal extortion and money laundering charges less than two years after his win.
Adrian Ashford covers campaigns and elections for the SC Daily Gazette. Before moving to South Carolina, he covered faith and religion for The Dallas Morning News. He studied religion and politics at Harvard and wrote a thesis about evolving interpretations of the First Amendment.
SC Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
