April is the busiest time in the garden, but no need to panic,
just take things one step at a time and it will all get done. Make sure you take
time to sit in the sun to admire any colour that’s already in the garden whilst
you listen to the birds. It’s a good opportunity to make a note of any gaps in
your spring planting for the autumn bulb order for next year’s display.
Sow hardy annuals, such as marigolds, poppies, dill,
cerinthe, nigella, as well as native wildflowers, into gaps in borders.
Harden off seedlings that have been started off indoors on
warm still days. Place them outside during the day, but take them in again late
afternoon, and do this for about a week or so. This way they will get used to
the cooler conditions before being planted outside. Start planting out
half-hardies, eg cosmos, in sheltered spots at end of the month.
Enjoy instant colour by planting primulas and polyanthus in
pots and at the front of borders.
Prick out cut flower seedlings.
Sow perennials such as hollyhocks, delphiniums and
echinaceas.
Sow sweet peas at the base of supports, and transplant those
sown in autumn into their final positions.
Sow sunflowers in a sunny, open site, then water regularly
and protect seedlings from slugs and snails.
Protect the new shoots of hostas, delphiniums, lupins and
other vulnerable plants from slugs and snails.
Continue deadheading spring bulbs and bedding, so they don't
waste energy setting seed.
Prune hydrangeas, cutting back the old stems to a healthy
shoot lower down.
Reinvigorate mature clumps of hardy perennials, such as
hostas, asters and daylilies, by dividing and replanting.
Check for aphids on roses and rub them off before they
develop into major infestations.
Add aquatic plants, such as waterlilies and irises, to
garden ponds.
Plant up hanging baskets and pots with summer bedding, but
keep indoors until after the last frost
Pot up dahlia tubers.
Plant second-early and maincrop potatoes
Try direct sowing some rocket and other salad leaves,
carrots, peas, beetroot, spinach and chard.
Sow some quick growing half-hardy annuals, like pumpkins,
squash, sweetcorn, basil and French beans.
Sow outdoor varieties of tomatoes, chillies and courgettes
in pots, so they're ready to plant out in late May or June
Plant out onions, shallots and garlic.
Pot on tomatoes. It’s tempting to move tomatoes from a
module or seed tray straight into their final, large planting pot, but this
slows growth. Tomatoes like to feel contained and cosy; their roots can’t cope
with a large volume of compost and tend to rot. Pot them only one size up and
add a cane at their side to support them as they grow.
Sow flowering companions in the veg plot, such as pot
marigolds and borage
All soft fruits, eg strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants,
blackcurrants, and gooseberries, will benefit from a mulch. Garden compost,
leaf mould, organic manure, straw, hay and spent mushroom compost can all be
used.
Sow herbs in pots or trays, including basil, chives,
parsley, fennel and coriander
Hoe between rows of veg seedlings regularly, as weeds grow
rapidly at this time of year
Cut back tatty old fern fronds to make way for new ones that
are starting to unfurl
Lay turf or sow grass seed to create a new lawn or repair
damaged patches
Remove moss and weeds in turf, and boost growth with a
nitrogen-rich lawn feed
Cut away unwanted suckers growing around the base of trees
and shrubs
Start feeding houseplants once a week with liquid
fertiliser, continuing through to autumn
Put a bag of barley straw in ponds to discourage algae and
keep the water clear all summer
Keep cloches or large sheets of fleece handy to protect
young plants if late frost is forecast
Check that guttering on sheds and greenhouses is clear of
debris, so that April showers will fill up water butts
Treat problem weeds, such as nettles and brambles
Look out for clusters of aphids on shoot tips and young leaves,
and wipe off before they multiply
Keep putting out food for birds, as they're busy raising
their broods