April is an exciting time in the garden as plants awaken and growth accelerates. With longer days and warmer temperatures, there’s plenty to do to keep your garden thriving. Here’s a friendly guide to help you navigate your April gardening tasks:
Flower & Shrub Care
- Sow Hardy Annuals – Directly sow hardy annuals like love-in-a-mist and pot marigolds into gaps in borders for a splash of summer colour.
- Plant Primulas – Add instant colour to borders and pots by planting primulas and polyanthus.
- Deadhead Spring Bulbs – Continue removing spent flowers from spring bulbs to prevent them from setting seed. Allow the foliage to die back naturally to nourish next year’s blooms.
- Sow Sweet Peas – Sow sweet pea seeds at the base of supports, or transplant autumn-sown sweet peas into their final positions.
- Prune Hydrangeas – Cut back old stems to a healthy shoot lower down to encourage fresh growth and abundant blooms.
- Divide Hostas – As new shoots appear, divide large clumps of hostas to propagate new plants. Replant divisions in pots or directly into borders.
- Protect New Shoots – Keep an eye out for slugs and snails, especially around new shoots of plants like hostas and delphiniums. Use organic deterrents to protect your plants.
Fruit & Vegetable Gardening
- Plant Potatoes – Plant second-early potatoes early in the month and maincrop varieties later on. Ensure soil is well-prepared and frost-free.
- Sow Tender Crops – Start outdoor varieties of tomatoes, chillies, courgettes, cucumbers, pumpkins, and sweetcorn in pots indoors, ready to plant out after the last frost.
- Sow Salad Leaves – Sow small batches of rocket and other easy salad leaves every few weeks for a continuous harvest.
- Plant Onions and Shallots – Continue planting batches of garlic, shallots, and onions to extend the cropping period.
- Sow Herbs – Sow herbs like parsley, coriander, dill, and chamomile in a sunny bed or container for fresh flavours throughout the season.
General Garden Maintenance
- Install a Water Butt – Make use of April showers by installing a water butt to collect rainwater, providing a free and sustainable water source for your garden.
- Maintain Plant Hygiene – Regularly remove faded blooms and dead leaves to prevent fungal diseases from taking hold.
- Ventilate Greenhouses – Open greenhouse windows and doors on warm days to improve air circulation and reduce the risk of disease.
- Feed Houseplants – Begin feeding houseplants once a week with liquid fertiliser, as they enter their active growing season.
- Clear Ponds – Place a bag of barley straw in ponds to discourage algae growth and keep the water clear throughout summer.
Lawn Care
- Lay New Lawns – April is an ideal time to lay turf or sow grass seed to create a new lawn or repair damaged patches.
- Remove Moss and Weeds – If present, remove moss and weeds from your lawn, and boost growth with a nitrogen-rich lawn feed.
- Regular Mowing – Begin mowing your lawn regularly, setting blades higher for the first few cuts to avoid stressing the grass.
Pest & Disease Control
- Monitor for Aphids – Look out for clusters of aphids on shoot tips and young leaves. Wipe them off or use an appropriate organic spray before they multiply.
- Protect from Late Frosts – Even though days are warmer, keep cloches or fleece handy to protect young plants if late frosts are forecast overnight.
- Hoe Regularly – Hoe between rows of vegetable seedlings regularly, as weeds grow rapidly at this time of year and can outcompete your crops.
By staying on top of these tasks, you’ll set the stage for a vibrant and productive garden in the months to come. Happy gardening!
For more tips and all your gardening needs, visit us at Haddenham Garden Centre.