Gardening Tips in April

At last we are in the heart of spring. This month is probably my favourite time of the year with the garden springing into life. The plants seem to grow so fast racing amongst themselves to be the first to feel the warmth of the sun.

It is a month that really lifts your spirits with the sights and smells of fresh growth in the garden. However, you must not get too complacent with all this new growth, weeds are having a field day. So get hoeing!

Preparation

Unless you have a glasshouse to keep them snug, wait a couple more weeks before buying summer plugs. If you haven’t done so, mulch all your beds and borders.

Propagation

Sow any annuals that you have.
If you have seedlings start pricking out and growing on.
Take cuttings of perennials and conifers.
For a late display of sweetpea sow them as early as possible this month.
This is your last chance to sow summer flowering bulbs.
Protect any young seedlings from cold nights or heavy rain.

Pruning

Trim back silver-leaved plants to keep them thick and bushy.
Prune back shrubs whose flowers have now faded.
Prune back decorative shrubs grown for their foliage and bark
Trim back winter flowering heathers.
Planting
Now begins one of best times of the year to plant container grown ornamental plants in your garden.
Once the frost has passed; plant out your dahlia tubers.
Towards the end of the month plant up your hanging baskets and pots but still watch out for late frosts.

Edibles

Now that the threat of frost is all but gone you can start sowing your veg seed into prepared beds.

Lawns

Start mowing your lawn but start at a high cut and start to reduce the level over subsequent mowings in the coming month.
Start sowing and turfing new lawns.

Indoors plants/Glasshouses

In the greenhouse or your conservatory ventilate regularly, damp down on warmer days.
Shade young plants under glass.

Maintenance

Start dead-heading your daffodil heads as energy will be taken up producing seeds.
Keep a watchful eye for pests and diseases.
Continue to water any trees or shrubs that you have recently planted.
Spray your roses against black spot
Tie in new shoots on climbers.
Start staking your perennials.
Protect all your plants from slugs and snails.
Clean out your ponds and plant them up with aquatic plants

Plants that look good this month

• Amelanchier lamarckii
• Dicentra spectabilis
• Magnolia stellata
• Vinca minor
• Fritillaria meleagris
• Corylopsis glabrescens
• Prunus avium ‘Plena’
• Convallaria majalis
• Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula’