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
Vegetables & Herbs
Fruit
The Flower Garden
The Greenhouse
Containers
Trees & Shrubs
Hedges
The Lawn
Wildlife and the Pond
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