Gardening In April: Spring in Full Swing

April showers bring forth May flowers - at least that’s what the old English proverb says. And in general, gardening in April is all about sowing, planting and nurturing plants that will bring joy later in the year. That’s not to say that April gardens are in any way unexciting - not even on rainy days! Think dancing daffodils, emerging blossoms, bursting buds and fresh new foliage.

Gardening jobs for April include planting, sowing, feeding and weeding. It’s all about celebrating the re-awakening of the garden, caring for young plants, enriching the soil and preparing the garden for summer.

What to do in the Garden in April

First and foremost, be sure to spend as much time in your garden as you can - not necessarily working, but taking advantage of longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures to immerse yourself in nature. Even a stroll around the garden with your hands wrapped around a steaming cup of coffee does wonders for wellbeing.

When it comes to gardening jobs, April has plenty to keep you occupied.

•    Keep sowing seeds of flowers and vegetables - aim to have a succession of edibles and blooms to prolong interest.
•    Nip unwanted plants in the bud. Remove weeds and mulch beds and borders to suppress their growth.
•    Provide support for taller perennial plants. It’s easier to do it now than to wait until they flop.
•    Water young seedlings if the soil starts to become dry.
•    Mow your lawn regularly.
•    Take photos and note down any changes and improvements you’d like to make to next spring’s display.
•    Check that your irrigation system is working well and make repairs in time for summer.

Flowers and Borders - What to do in April

Whilst most plants are just getting geared up to bloom, some spring flowering bulbs are preparing to relax having done their thing. Be sure to deadhead daffodils, tulips and other early flowers so that the plants can put their energy back into the bulbs in order to build next years blooms.

Feed emerging roses and perennial plants with a well balanced, slow release fertiliser. This will not only support growth, it will help the plants to resist disease and tolerate dry conditions.

April flower planting is always a joyful job and there’s no better time to refresh your planting scheme with new plants from the garden centre. If you are unsure what will thrive in your plot or which plants look good together, it’s well worth investing in the services of a professional garden designer who can create a planting plan for you. Find a garden designer near you. https://www.landscaper.org.uk/find-a-landscaping-professional/landscaper-directory

Fruit and Vegetables

A favourite vegetable for this time of year is rhubarb, and it’s even more delicious if it is ‘forced’. Plunging rhubarb plants into darkness encourages the growth of long, tender stems that are just perfect in pies and crumbles. What’s more it’s easy to do - simply place a large, heavy flowerpot upside down over the top of your rhubarb plant. Within a couple of weeks you’ll be enjoying your first harvest of the year.

Elsewhere in the veg plot, April vegetable gardening jobs include sowing seeds of your favourite plants. Vegetables to sow in April include leafy greens, carrots, root vegetables and salad crops. No need to sow the entire packet in one go, unless of course you think your family will eat 200 cabbages all at once. It’s better to sow a few seeds of one variety now, and then sow a few more in 3-4 weeks time, that way you can stagger your harvest times and, ultimately make better use of the space available to you. We call that successional sowing and it works beautifully for flowers as well as for edibles.

Beans, courgettes, pumpkins, squashes and sweetcorn can be sown indoors or under cover - they will need protection from frost for another month or so yet.

Thin out seedlings like carrots, beetroot, spring onions and radishes to give individual plants room to grow.

Sow parsnips, swede and turnips outdoors and plant early potatoes. But be sure to keep some fleece handy to protect against frost.

Lawns and Hedges

Hedges will be starting to look amazing in April, particularly deciduous and native species which will likely be blossoming and covered in bees. As bird nesting season is in full swing, it’s best to avoid disturbing your hedges unless you feel that they really need a trim. An application of slow release fertiliser around the roots won’t go amiss though.

April lawn care is a genuine joy. The smell of new mown grass in a spring garden is simply unsurpassable. You’ll probably be mowing at least once a week in April. Make sure that the mower blades are nice and sharp and don’t be tempted to scalp the lawn - it’s not too late in the year for a hard frost!

Establish a regular lawn feeding regime according to the instructions for your chosen brand of fertiliser. Granular feeds should always be watered in. Alternatively, hire a lawn care professional to deliver a tailored feed to your grass - it’s certainly easier than doing it yourself and the results will speak for themselves.

Trees and Shrubs

Planting trees in April adds structure to the garden and allows the roots to establish a little before the hot dry days of summer. The wise gardener will stake new trees well and invest in hydration bags to help their investment thrive during that all important first year.

If you are the proud owner of spring flowering lovelies such as forsythia of flowering ribes, you may find yourself pruning shrubs in April. Cut stems back after flowering to maintain the size and shape of shrub you like. This is a good time to take cuttings to pass on to friends and family.

Mulching trees in April is another essential gardening job for spring. A thick layer of compost or well rotted manure will suppress weeds and help retain soil moisture. Please be sure to leave a gap between the mulch and the stem so that air can circulate.

Greenhouse, Indoor and Container Gardening

As the sun’s rays get stronger, it’s crucial that greenhouse plants are well ventilated to reduce the risk of disease. Open doors and vents on warm days but remember to close them tightly at night and protect tender plants from frost if needs be.

One of the most satisfying of all April greenhouse jobs is nurturing seedlings. Those seeds you sowed in march are like to be big enough for pricking out now. Pricking out simply means moving individual seedlings to larger containers so that they have more space. Wait until the seedlings have at least two ‘true’ leaves and avoid handling the stems. A damaged leaf can regrow, but seedlings rarely recover from broken stems.

Container plants and houseplants will flourish if you introduce a regular feeding regime. Add a liquid feed to the watering can when you irrigate the plants. A tomato feed is ideal for flowering container plants. Be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions to the letter.

Towards the end of the month, you can start hardening off young plants. Move them out of the greenhouse during the day to gradually get them used to ‘outdoor’ temperatures - eventually they will be able to stay out all day and all night.

If you are buying tender plants from the garden centre, check with staff that they have been properly hardened off before you plant them in your garden. Not sure? Err on the side of caution by covering them with fleece if a late frost is forecast.

Wildlife and Sustainability Tips

Mother Nature will be visibly more active this month. Expect to see birds, bees and possibly even an early butterfly or two. You can encourage wildlife into your garden by leaving out fresh water, and planting pollinator friendly flowers. Try to avoid cutting back or tidying areas where wildlife may be nesting. And please avoid using chemical pesticides and herbicides.

Other eco garden tips for spring include starting a compost heap or a wormery to recycle kitchen waste into plant food; Collect as much rainwater as you can and use it to water plants when needed; And switch to organic fertilisers to nourish and nurture soil microbes.