What to Do in the Garden in April | UK Gardening Jobs
Discover what to do in your garden in April, including lawn care, pruning, planting, fruit and vegetables, spring maintenance, weather advice and plants to enjoy.
What to do in my garden in April
April is when the garden really begins to gather pace. Longer days, increasing temperatures and warmer soil encourage rapid growth, while spring bulbs, flowering trees and emerging perennials bring increasing colour to borders.
It is also one of the busiest months in the UK gardening calendar. Lawns are growing strongly, weeds are becoming increasingly active, seeds can be sown, new plants established and many garden maintenance jobs need attention before growth becomes too advanced.
April weather, however, can be deceptive. Warm sunny days can quickly be followed by cold nights and late frosts. Newly emerging foliage, blossom and tender young plants can all be vulnerable, so it is important not to assume that summer has arrived.
The key to April gardening is to get ahead. Deal with weeds while they are small, support perennials before they become tall, keep newly planted trees and shrubs watered and prepare the garden for the rapid growth that May will bring.
Top 10 tips
1. Keep on top of weeds
Increasing soil temperatures encourage rapid weed growth.
Remove annual weeds before they flower and set seed, and tackle perennial weeds while their new growth is still manageable.
2. Protect vulnerable plants from late frost
April can still bring damaging frosts across much of the UK.
Keep horticultural fleece available and pay particular attention to tender new growth, early fruit blossom and plants recently moved from protected conditions.
3. Mow lawns regularly
Grass growth increases considerably during April.
Mow as required, gradually lowering the cutting height as the lawn becomes more vigorous.
Avoid cutting extremely short.
4. Divide herbaceous perennials
Many established perennials can still be divided during April.
Division can rejuvenate congested plants and provide additional material for other parts of the garden.
5. Support tall perennials
Install plant supports before plants need them.
Peonies, delphiniums and other taller perennials look much more natural when allowed to grow through supports rather than being tied up after they have collapsed.
6. Plant trees, shrubs and perennials
April can be an excellent planting month for container-grown plants.
Water thoroughly after planting and continue monitoring soil moisture as temperatures increase.
7. Sow flowers and vegetables
April is a major sowing month.
Many hardy flowers and vegetables can be sown outside, while more tender plants can be started under protection.
8. Check for pests
Slugs, snails, aphids and other garden pests become increasingly active during April.
Check vulnerable new growth regularly and use an appropriate control strategy where necessary.
9. Feed and mulch borders
Where appropriate, apply a suitable spring feed and mulch established borders with organic material.
Mulching can improve soil, conserve moisture and suppress weed growth.
10. Start thinking about watering
April can sometimes be surprisingly dry.
New trees, hedges, shrubs and perennials have limited root systems and should not be allowed to dry out while becoming established.
Herbaceous Perennials
April is one of the most exciting months in a herbaceous border.
Plants that were barely visible in March can suddenly produce substantial new growth.
Complete any remaining cutting back before new shoots become entangled with old stems.
Many established perennials can still be lifted and divided during April, particularly where clumps have become congested or flowering has deteriorated.
Plants that may benefit from division include:
Geraniums
Hostas
Hemerocallis
Asters
Rudbeckias
Echinacea
Persicaria
Some ornamental grasses
Replant healthy sections into prepared soil and water thoroughly.
Install supports around taller plants before they require them. This is particularly useful for plants such as peonies and delphiniums.
Early staking allows foliage to conceal the support naturally as it grows.
April is also an ideal time to mulch perennial borders.
Apply suitable organic matter to moist, weed-free soil, keeping excessive material away from plant crowns.
Watch carefully for slugs and snails.
Young hosta leaves, delphinium shoots and many other emerging perennials can be particularly vulnerable.
Trees and shrubs are entering a period of rapid growth during April.
Many deciduous species are coming into leaf, while flowering cherries, magnolias and other spring-flowering trees can provide some of the year's most spectacular displays.
Continue planting container-grown trees and shrubs, but remember that plants installed as temperatures rise require careful watering.
The traditional bare-root and root-balled planting season is coming to an end as plants enter active growth.
Recently planted specimen trees should be checked regularly.
Make sure:
Rootballs remain stable
Stakes are secure
Tree ties are correctly adjusted
Mulch is not piled against trunks
Soil remains adequately moist
Spring-flowering shrubs should generally be pruned after flowering where pruning is required.
This allows you to enjoy the current display while giving the plant time to develop new growth that may carry next year's flowers.
Examples can include Forsythia and some early-flowering Spiraea.
Evergreens may also be putting on fresh growth. Remove obvious winter damage once the extent of healthy new growth becomes clear.
Be cautious with tender evergreen shrubs because late frost can still damage newly emerging foliage.
April is an important month for lawn care.
Grass should now be growing much more actively and mowing frequency will increase.
Continue reducing the mowing height gradually rather than suddenly cutting the lawn extremely short.
Frequent mowing encourages a denser lawn, but never remove excessive growth in a single cut.
Spring lawn maintenance may include:
Regular mowing
Aeration
Light scarification
Feeding
Moss control
Repairing bare patches
Overseeding
Improving drainage
Scarification should only be carried out when the lawn is growing strongly enough to recover.
Bare or thin areas can be overseeded once soil temperatures are suitable.
Keep newly sown grass seed consistently moist during germination.
April is also a useful time to redefine lawn edges.
A crisp edge between grass and borders can make an enormous visual difference to the whole garden.
Avoid mowing when grass is excessively wet and never mow during frost.
April is an important month for fruit because many trees and bushes are flowering or preparing to flower.
Apple, pear, plum, cherry and other fruit blossom can be vulnerable to late frost.
Where practical, protect smaller trained trees and bushes with horticultural fleece when frost is forecast, taking care not to obstruct pollinating insects unnecessarily during the daytime.
Encourage pollinators by including spring-flowering plants throughout the garden.
Check fruit trees for pests and disease as leaves and blossom develop.
Newly planted fruit trees require careful watering, particularly during dry spring weather.
Mulch around trees and bushes to conserve moisture and suppress weeds, keeping mulch away from direct contact with trunks.
Strawberries will begin producing stronger growth.
Remove dead foliage, control weeds and consider placing straw or another suitable material beneath developing fruit later in the season.
Tie in raspberry canes and check support wires.
Fruit grown against walls or fences can dry out surprisingly quickly because these areas often receive less rainfall.
April is one of the main sowing months in the vegetable garden.
Soil is warming and a much wider range of crops can be established.
Depending on local conditions, vegetables that may be sown outside include:
Beetroot
Carrots
Peas
Broad beans
Radishes
Lettuce
Spinach
Chard
Turnips
Spring onions
Parsnips
Some brassicas
Maincrop potatoes and remaining early potatoes can also be planted according to local conditions.
Under glass or indoors, tender crops can be started or grown on, including:
Tomatoes
Chillies
Peppers
Aubergines
Cucumbers
Courgettes
Pumpkins
Squashes
Do not rush tender plants outside.
Warm daytime temperatures can be misleading and night temperatures may remain far too low.
Prepare vegetable beds by removing weeds and incorporating organic matter where required.
Successive sowing of crops such as lettuce, radish and spinach can help provide a continuous harvest rather than everything becoming ready at once.
Protect seedlings from slugs, snails, pigeons and other pests.
The herb garden becomes increasingly productive during April.
Established perennial herbs are producing fresh growth and many new herbs can be sown.
Chives, mint, oregano and other hardy perennial herbs can be divided where clumps have become congested.
Mint is vigorous and is often best grown somewhere its spreading roots can be controlled.
Hardier herbs can be sown outdoors according to conditions.
Tender herbs such as basil are better started somewhere warm and protected.
Herbs that can be considered for sowing during April include:
Parsley
Coriander
Dill
Chervil
Chives
Basil under protection
Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary, sage and thyme benefit from sunny positions and freely draining soil.
Trim obviously damaged growth once the risk of severe winter weather has diminished, but avoid cutting indiscriminately into old woody stems.
Container-grown herbs may require more regular watering as temperatures rise.
April is an excellent month to bring garden water features fully back into operation.
Clean pumps, filters and reservoirs and inspect the system before switching it on permanently.
Check:
Pumps
Filters
Pipework
Electrical connections
Liners
Reservoirs
Grilles
Water outlets
Joints and seals
Remove excessive debris while remaining mindful of aquatic wildlife.
Ponds become increasingly active as temperatures rise.
Aquatic plants begin growing strongly and wildlife such as frogs, newts and insects may be particularly active.
Avoid unnecessary disturbance during breeding periods.
Top up water levels during dry weather where required.
Where possible, rainwater is preferable for topping up wildlife ponds.
April is also an excellent time to introduce suitable aquatic and marginal planting, although individual species have different requirements.
For contemporary water features, fountains and rills, check water levels regularly because increasing temperatures and wind can accelerate evaporation.
Spring is an excellent time to get hard landscaping looking its best.
Patios, paths and steps may still carry algae, moss and organic deposits accumulated through winter.
Clean surfaces using a method appropriate to the paving material.
Avoid assuming that maximum pressure is the best approach. Excessive pressure washing can damage joints and some paving surfaces.
Inspect:
Porcelain paving
Natural stone
Paths
Steps
Driveways
Garden walls
Retaining walls
Edging
Drainage channels
Manhole covers
Raised beds
Check paving joints and repair damaged areas where necessary.
Clear drainage channels and outlets.
April showers can quickly reveal areas where water is not draining correctly.
Persistent puddling should be investigated because it may indicate blocked drainage, inadequate falls or another underlying problem.
April is also an excellent month for starting new landscaping projects, allowing patios, paths and other garden features to be completed in time for greater summer use.
Garden structures are increasingly becoming part of the growing garden during April.
Climbing plants are beginning to produce new shoots and surrounding vegetation can quickly conceal fences, walls and supports.
Inspect and repair structures before they become difficult to access.
Check:
Fences
Gates
Pergolas
Trellis
Privacy screens
Gazebos
Garden buildings
Raised beds
Bin stores
Log stores
Secure loose trellis and climbing wires.
Tie in new climbing plant growth before stems become tangled.
Check pergolas supporting mature climbers for structural movement or decay.
Timber treatments and exterior finishes can be applied when conditions and the manufacturer's instructions are suitable.
Repair gates that have moved or swollen during winter.
Clean gutters and downpipes on garden buildings and check roofs for winter damage.
House plants respond strongly to the increasing light levels of April.
Many will now be actively growing and require more regular attention.
Increase watering gradually according to individual plant requirements.
Never assume every house plant requires the same amount of water.
April is an excellent time to repot plants that have become root-bound.
Move them into a slightly larger container with an appropriate growing medium.
Regular feeding can begin for actively growing plants where appropriate.
Other April house plant jobs include:
Cleaning leaves
Removing dead foliage
Rotating pots
Taking cuttings
Dividing suitable plants
Checking roots
Inspecting for pests
Watch for aphids, spider mites, mealybugs, scale insects and fungus gnats.
Increasing sunlight can also scorch plants that have spent winter in relatively low light.
Move vulnerable plants gradually rather than suddenly placing them in intense direct sunshine.
The traditional idea of "April showers" only tells part of the story.
April can bring almost every type of UK weather, sometimes within the same week.
Late Frost
Frost remains one of the biggest risks.
Fruit blossom, magnolia flowers, emerging foliage and tender young plants can all be damaged.
Keep horticultural fleece available and monitor forecasts.
Dry Weather
April can sometimes be surprisingly dry.
Newly planted trees, hedging, shrubs and perennials require particular attention because their roots have not yet spread into the surrounding soil.
Check beneath the soil surface rather than assuming a brief shower has provided sufficient water.
April Showers
Intermittent rain combined with increasing temperatures can create excellent growing conditions.
Unfortunately, these conditions are equally good for weeds.
Use periods following rainfall to remove weeds while the soil is soft.
Strong Winds
Spring winds can dry plants rapidly.
Recently planted evergreens and larger-leaved plants may lose significant moisture even when air temperatures are relatively cool.
Check tree stakes and supports following storms.
Warm Sunshine
Strong April sunshine can create surprisingly warm conditions against south- and west-facing walls.
Greenhouses can also heat rapidly.
Increase greenhouse ventilation on sunny days and monitor watering carefully.
Plants to enjoy in April
Border and rock garden
Tulipa – Tulips
Tulips become one of the dominant flowers of many April gardens.
With an enormous range of colours and forms available, they can work in formal borders, contemporary planting, containers and more naturalistic schemes.
Narcissus – Daffodils
Many daffodils continue flowering well into April.
Deadhead faded flowers where appropriate but allow foliage to die back naturally so the bulb can replenish its energy reserves.
Muscari – Grape Hyacinths
Muscari produce dense spikes of blue flowers and can naturalise extremely effectively.
Primula
Primroses and other Primulas continue providing excellent spring colour.
Pulmonaria
Blue, pink and purple flowers combine with attractive foliage to make Pulmonaria particularly valuable in partially shaded planting.
Brunnera macrophylla
Clouds of small blue flowers appear above heart-shaped foliage.
Variegated cultivars can be particularly effective in shaded borders.
Epimedium
Delicate spring flowers appear above attractive foliage.
Epimedium is especially useful beneath trees and shrubs and within woodland-style planting.
Aubrieta
Aubrieta creates cascades of spring colour across walls, raised beds and rockeries.
Euphorbia
Many Euphorbias produce vivid acid-green or yellow-green flower bracts during spring, creating a striking contrast with darker foliage.
Bergenia
Spring flowers rise above substantial foliage, providing useful structure towards the front of borders.
Trees and shrubs with foliage of interest
April is a particularly good month for foliage because many trees and shrubs produce their most intensely coloured leaves when the growth is young.
Acer palmatum
Japanese maples begin producing delicate new foliage in shades of green, red, bronze and purple.
New leaves can be vulnerable to late frost and cold winds.
Photinia × fraseri 'Red Robin'
Bright red new growth makes Photinia particularly striking during spring.
Pieris japonica
Young foliage can emerge brilliant red, pink, bronze or copper before gradually changing colour.
Fatsia japonica
Bold evergreen leaves continue to provide architectural contrast against softer spring growth.
Euonymus fortunei
Evergreen and variegated forms provide reliable foliage colour.
Pittosporum
Fresh evergreen growth can be particularly attractive during spring.
Heuchera
Heucheras provide a huge range of foliage colours, including lime, caramel, bronze, purple and deep burgundy.
Hostas
Hostas begin emerging during April, bringing fresh green, blue-green and variegated foliage to shaded borders.
Protect emerging shoots from slugs and snails.
Trees with colourful fruit
April is not generally the peak month for ornamental fruit.
Most berries from the previous season have disappeared, while the current year's fruit has yet to develop.
This makes April an excellent month to appreciate the flowering trees and shrubs that will produce colourful fruit later in the year.
Malus – Crab Apples
Crab apples are often covered with flower buds or blossom during April.
The flowers are followed later by ornamental fruits in shades of yellow, orange and red.
Sorbus – Rowan
Fresh spring foliage appears and flower development begins, eventually producing the familiar clusters of berries later in the season.
Crataegus – Hawthorn
Developing spring growth will soon be followed by flowers and, later, red haws.
Ilex aquifolium – Holly
Female hollies need successful pollination to produce their autumn and winter berry display.
Small flowers appearing later in spring play an important role in the process.
Pyracantha
Fresh growth precedes the white flowers that will eventually develop into large clusters of colourful berries.
April is therefore less about enjoying existing fruit and more about watching the beginning of the annual cycle that will create autumn and winter displays.
Greenhouse plants in flower
Greenhouses become considerably more colourful and active during April.
Pelargoniums
Overwintered Pelargoniums can begin flowering strongly as light levels increase.
Primulas
Cool greenhouse conditions can prolong colourful Primula displays.
Camellias
Late-flowering Camellias may continue producing spectacular blooms.
Clivia
Clivias can provide striking clusters of orange, yellow or reddish-orange flowers.
Orchids
Numerous orchids can flower during April depending upon species and growing conditions.
Azaleas
Container-grown Azaleas can provide spectacular spring colour in protected conditions.
Forced Spring Bulbs
Late tulips, Narcissus and other spring bulbs grown under protection can continue providing colour.
Getting Ahead in the April Garden
April is a month when a garden can change almost daily.
Perennials emerge, trees come into leaf, blossom appears, lawns grow rapidly and weeds suddenly seem to occupy every available piece of soil.
Getting ahead now makes the rest of spring considerably easier.
Mulch borders before plants become too large. Install supports before perennials collapse. Remove weeds before they seed. Repair structures before climbers conceal them. Check irrigation and outdoor taps before warm weather creates greater demand for water.
Most importantly, pay particular attention to newly planted trees, shrubs and hedges.
A plant installed during winter may have survived months of rain without requiring additional water, but warmer temperatures, new foliage and spring winds dramatically increase its water requirements.
April is therefore a month of transition from winter maintenance to active garden management.
Make the most of longer days, enjoy the abundance of spring flowers and prepare the garden now for the extraordinary growth that is about to follow.