What to do in April

April is a busy time in the garden, with temperatures warming up and the growing season fully underway though it can be a challenge second guessing what the weather is going to do, will there be more frosts ?:

Things to do in April:

Provide protection for newly planted trees and shrubs in cold exposed positions.
Continue watering newly planted trees and shrubs.
Plant evergreen trees and shrubs.
Tie in the new shoots of climbers.
Prune early flowering shrubs as well as those grown for large or colourful foliage.
Give grey leaved shrubs a trim to keep them bushy.
Divide perennials and stake tall growing ones.
Pot up or transplant self-sown seedlings.
Sow annual climbers and grasses.
Deadhead daffodils
Hoe to suppress weeds but always dig perennial weeds right out.
Sow or lay turf for new lawns and feed established lawns.
Sow greenhouse crops such as tomatoes and continue sowing and planting vegetables outdoors.
Prick out or pot up seedlings before they get congested and grow leggy.

Last Chance:

Cut down any dead growth of perennials if you have not already.
Plant summer flowering bulbs and sow sweet peas.

Getting Ahead:

Prepare trenches for runner beans.
Plant up hanging baskets if you have space under cover to shelter them for a few more weeks.

The Weather

April is a mild month with average day time temperatures ranging from 11°C to 12°C, spring is in full swing, but watch out as frosts are still possible, particularly early in the month.
April showers are common, but rainfall is usually moderate.
More sunshine than in the winter months, but still plenty of cloudy days.

General Tasks

Clear Debris:	Remove any last remnants of winter debris like leaves, sticks and dead plants to keep the garden tidy and allow new growth to emerge.
Prepare beds for planting:	Dig over garden beds and add compost, manure, or other organic matter to improve soil fertility and structure. Make sure the soil is not too wet or sticky before digging.
Weeding:	Continue weeding to prevent weeds from establishing and competing with plants.

Vegetables & Herbs

Harvesting:	Asparagus spears should start to appear, cut below the ground when about 4” is showing.
Sowing outdoors:	Direct sow hardy vegetables like carrots, peas, spinach, radishes, lettuce, broad beans and kale outside.
Sowing indoors:	You can now sow the more sensitive plants like Melons, cucumbers, sweetcorn, courgettes, beans (runner, broad and French) and brassicas (cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower) for planting out later.
Potatoes:	If you haven't done so already, plant main-crop potatoes outdoors and earth up emerging stems of those planted earlier to prevent green tubers and allow more tubers to develop.
Start herbs:	You can start sowing herbs like basil, coriander and parsley indoors, or sow them directly outdoors once the risk of frost has passed.

Fruit

Planting:	April is an ideal time to plant container grown fruit trees and bushes such as raspberries and gooseberries.
Pruning:	You can now prune stone fruits (plums, cherries, peaches) once flowers and leaves start to appear.
Strawberries:	To get an early strawberry crop place cloches over some plants.
Mulch fruit plants:	Add mulch around fruit plants to help retain moisture, suppress weeds and maintain soil temperature.
Feeding:	Apply a balanced fertiliser to encourage healthy growth and flowering.

The Flower Garden

Divide and move perennials:	If you have clumps of perennials that have outgrown their space, this is a good time to divide them, replant them or move them to new locations in the garden.
Sow annuals:	Direct sow hardy annuals like cosmos, sunflowers and zinnias in borders or containers for late summer and autumn colour.
Plant summer-flowering bulbs:	April is a good time to plant summer-flowering bulbs like dahlias, begonias and gladiolus, as well as tubers like begonias and lilies. It’s also a good time to divide Nerines that have become overcrowded.
Deadhead spring-flowering bulbs:	Once daffodils, tulips and crocuses have finished flowering, remove the spent flowers but leave the foliage to die back naturally.

The Greenhouse

Sowing:	Continue sowing seeds under glass for later transplanting outdoors, such as tomatoes, courgettes, pumpkins and beans.
Plant tomatoes and peppers:	If you’ve started tomatoes and peppers indoors, now is the time to pot them on into larger pots or plant them out in the greenhouse.
Prune and tidy the greenhouse:	Prune back any dead growth and tidy up in the greenhouse to prevent disease and pests. Check for mould and mildew and increase ventilation to improve air circulation.
Hardening off:	As the weather warms, begin to harden off any young plants that you plan to move outdoors in the coming weeks.

Containers

Plant containers for spring & summer:	Fill containers with spring bedding plants like pansies, violas and primroses, or use spring bulbs for vibrant colour. For summer interest, consider planting geraniums, begonias and fuchsias.
Repot overwintered plants:	If you’ve overwintered plants like geraniums, fuchsias, or tender herbs, repot them into fresh compost to encourage strong growth.
Check container drainage:	Make sure containers have adequate drainage to avoid waterlogging, especially as temperatures rise and plants start growing more vigorously.

Trees & Shrubs

Planting:	April is a great time to plant trees and shrubs, including deciduous varieties, evergreen trees and ornamental shrubs, as the soil warms and moisture levels rise.
Prune early flowering shrubs:	Prune shrubs that have finished flowering, such as forsythia or viburnum, to keep them neat and promote healthy growth. Cut back Lavender so as to keep the plants bushy and compact.
Check for pests and diseases:	Inspect your trees and shrubs for pests like aphids, caterpillars or fungal diseases and treat them accordingly with organic or chemical controls.

Hedges

Plant new hedges:	If you plan to plant new hedging, such as boxwood or laurel, April is a good time to do so, as the soil is warm and the plants can establish quickly.
Trim evergreen hedges:	Trim evergreen hedges to shape them and encourage fresh growth. Avoid cutting too hard or in very wet weather, as this can cause damage to the plants.

The Lawn

Repair bare patches:	Patch up any bare patches in the lawn by sowing grass seed or laying turf, ensuring the soil is well-prepared and the weather is suitable.
Mowing:	If the grass is growing, start mowing your lawn regularly to keep it neat. Ensure your mower blades are sharp to avoid damaging the grass.
Aerating:	If your lawn feels compacted, aerate it by making holes in the ground with a garden fork or aerator to allow air, water and nutrients to penetrate the soil.
Feeding:	Apply a spring lawn feed to encourage healthy growth and consider using a moss killer if necessary.

Wildlife and the Pond

Clear the pond:	Remove any remaining debris from the pond, such as fallen leaves, that can decay and affect water quality.
Check water quality:	Test and adjust the pH and water levels in the pond to ensure optimal conditions for fish and plants.
Add plants:	Plant oxygenators and marginal plants, such as water lilies, around the edge to provide cover for fish and help maintain a healthy ecosystem.
Wildlife:	As the weather warms, check for signs of wildlife like frogs, toads and newts waking up in the pond. Ensure there are no obstructions or hazards to their movement.

Back to MDGS Home Page