The garden in April

Easter has come and gone and although, traditionally, the start of the horticultural season, it certainly still feels cold, wet and unlikely to leave us with a wanting to go and venture out into the garden!  Despite the fact that this

If you do venture out however, there are some stunning sights to be seen as new foliage and flowers appear on trees, shrubs and spring plants...

Alien looking shoots from a Paeonia plant


Pulmonaria "Majesté"

Andy

For those that are brave enough, then here is a selection of jobs you can be getting on with in your garden in April.

Lawn

The lawn will need to be mown at some stage as the grass has started to grow now. This can be followed by aeration of the turf and then an application of a spring fertiliser and finally scarifying to remove old plant debris. The lawn can be mown frequently, but lowering the blades after each cut to a minimum of about 2-3cm. Bumps can be levelled off and hollows filled and selective weed killers can be applied if necessary.

Seeds

Hardy seeds can be sown outdoors in situ where they are to grow after forking in a general fertiliser mix and then adding a top dressing. Half-hardy bedding plant seeds can be sown in pots and left under glass in a sheltered spot like a cold frame. Keep an eye on them just in case in temperatures plummet. It's worth also keeping an eye open to check they are not going yellow. If they are, the chances are they need a feed.

Bulbs

The beds with Narcissus will need weeding and fading flowers from early flowering bulbs will need tidying up. If the weather is dry, make sure you water them well.

Pools and water plants

Planting can be started in pools when the temperature gets warmer.  Divide and plant water lilies. Divide marginal and bog plants if necessary. Feed larger aquatic plants and plants not being divided with slow release fertiliser tablets.

Trees and Shrubs

Water newly planted trees and shrubs in dry weather; this includes newly planted hedges. They will benefit from a good mulch of grass clippings or bark mulch. Lightly prune trees and shrubs which have finished flowering. Transplant Rhododendrons and Azaleas which need to be moved.

Fruit

Keep an eye out for pests and diseases on fruit. Protect vulnerable trees on walls from heavy frosts while in flower. Check tree ties to ensure they are all in place. Mulch around fruit trees and newly planted fruit canes.

Vegetables

Onion sets can be sown along with salad leaves, beetroot, chard, kohl rabi, radish Summer cauliflowers, carrots, pickling onions, peas, perpetual spinach, purple sprouting broccoli and winter cabbages.  Plant second early potatoes after chitting early in the month and main crop potatoes later in the month. If you have Rhubarb, remove flowers as soon as they start to come through.

Herbaceous

Put plant supports in place to protect tall perennials, or plants with large, heavy flowers like Peonies. Keep your eyes open for slugs and snails eating new leaves of Delphiniums, Hostas and Lilies.

General

Mulch and fertilise your borders when they have warmed up, but make sure you have removed weeds before soaking the soil. Ensure climbing and rambling roses are held in place properly. Feed roses and shrubs. 

Remove algae from paths with a stiff brush. If the weather is warm, open your greenhouse doors to aid air circulation which will reduce temperatures and help prevent disease.