Lowcountry Almanac: April
Image above: Sunbathing like a true local — just with a few more teeth and a little less sunscreen. As temperatures rise in April, alligators shake off their winter sluggishness, lounging in the sun to warm up before making the rounds between lagoons in search of food and romance. This laid-back Lowcountry reptile was caught catching some rays by photographer Chris Klonowski at Jarvis Creek Park on Hilton Head Island.
With sunshine, sea air and blooming beauty, this month is made for the outdoors.
April in the Lowcountry welcomes spring in full bloom — mild mornings, sunlit afternoons and refreshing sea breezes. Highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s create ideal conditions for beach walks, boat days, golf rounds and backyard gatherings. Azaleas, dogwoods and wisteria add bursts of color, while Easter festivities, peak garden season and the iconic RBC Heritage golf tournament invite outdoor adventures. Fittingly, April’s name comes from the Latin aperire, meaning “to open,” as nature fully awakens. With insights from the 2025 Old Farmer’s Almanac and Grow Great Vegetables South Carolina, here’s your guide to making the most of the season.
Night & day
With each day, the Lowcountry enjoys more sunlight, a perfect prelude to summer’s heat.
Sunrise: 6:35 a.m.-7:09 a.m. (earlier each morning)
Sunset: 7:44 p.m.-8:04 p.m. (later each day)
Weather predictions
April in the Lowcountry ushers in warmer days
with occasional spring showers. This year’s forecast predicts above-average temperatures with rainfall staying close to normal.
Average temperature: 67 degrees (3° above average)
Precipitation: 2 1/2 inches (1 inch below average)
Forecast by week
April 1-7: Rainy periods, warm
April 8-11: Sunny, cool
April 12-18: Sunny, warm
April 19-30: Isolated thunderstorms; cool, then warm
Astronomical events
April’s night sky shines with celestial wonders.
April 13: This month’s full moon, also known as the Egg Moon, will light up the sky.
April 21: Mercury reaches its greatest western elongation, making it more visible before sunrise.
April 22-23: The Lyrid meteor shower peaks, with up to 20 meteors per hour streaking across the sky.
April 27: A new moon brings darker skies — ideal for stargazing and spotting faint constellations.
Tides & currents
Stay in sync with the rhythms of the Lowcountry coast. Click here for the latest tide and current predictions from NOAA.
Gardening
Prep: Tend to indoor seedlings, install stakes for peas and pole beans, weed and thin greens and root vegetables, hill up potatoes, and mulch to retain moisture and control weeds. Set up drip irrigation for efficient watering and weed perennials, as needed.
Plant: As temperatures rise, it’s time for serious garden center shopping and planting. Indoors: Begin hardening off tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and celery 1-2 weeks before transplanting. Pot up lettuce and any remaining tomatoes, peppers and eggplants into larger containers.Outdoors: Sow cantaloupes and watermelons, along with replacement tomatoes and flowers. Planting by bloom and soil temperature ensures optimal growth for warm-season crops. When lilacs bloom, it’s time to direct sow snap beans, cucumbers, sunflowers, edamame and sesame. As the soil warms to 65 degrees, peanuts, lima beans and sweet corn can be sown. Once it reaches 70 degrees, southern peas, squash and watermelon can go into the ground. Finally, at 75 degrees, it’s safe to sow okra, cantaloupes and sweet potatoes. Transplants: Set out cabbage, broccoli, celery, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant.
Harvest: Enjoy fresh picks of asparagus, collards, garlic greens, garlic scallions, herbs, kale, lettuce, mizuna, onions, radishes, early raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, senposai and spinach.
Best days
Timing is everything! These are the optimal days for key activities in April:
- Fishing: April 1-12, 27-30
- Buying a house: April 1, 28
- Moving: April 2-3, 29-30
- Traveling for pleasure: April 6-7
- Getting married: April 11-12
- Entertain guests: April 6-7
- Perming hair: April 21-22
- Deep cleaning: April 25-26
- Starting a project: April 28
- Laying shingles: April 6-7
