APRIL
CHECKLIST OF KEY TASKS FOR APRIL:
PATIOS & BORDERS
Mulch winter heathers with moss peat, which has a low pH and after flowering, trim the flowers off to keep the plants compact.
Plant out semi-hardy varieties of bedding plants such as antirrhinum, stocks, sweet williams, pansies and violas.
Plant out sweet peas and provide support for them to climb.
Plant out tender bedding plants in sheltered spots in your garden.
Beware of frosty nights so keep some bubble wrap handy to protect them.
Pinch out the shoot tips of bedding plants and hanging basket plants to encourage side shoots; this may delay flowering but will improve their performance.
Prick-out tender bedding plants; harden off earlier batches by putting them out by day and in by night for about a week.
Bedding plants should be safe outside, but watch weather forecast for frosts.
TREES & SHRUBS
Tie in shoots of clematis as they grow, and make sure their base is in the shade.
Keep weeding and mulching at the base of trees and shrubs.
PLANTING & PRUNING
Plant frost-tender shrubs such as lavender, sage, rosemary, osteospermum and hebes now.
Cut the old flowers off mahonias and a little of the stem too then it may encourage more branching.
Prune winter flowering jasmine and honeysuckle now; this will encourage new growth and give them time to initiate new flower buds for next year.
BULBS
Plant gladioli corms and dahlia tubers with 20 to 30cms of soil above them; this means that they can stay in the ground without having to lift them out to protect them from frost in winter.
Lift, divide and replant clumps of over-crowded bulbs.
Remove dead flower heads from bulbs; feed with a tomato liquid feed to build up the bulbs strength for next year.
Try to keep the leaves on the bulbs as long as possible so they can nourish the bulb via photosynthesis.
Lift and split daffodils to replant immediately; avoid damaging the roots as much as possible.
FRUIT GARDEN
Protect flowers on peaches, nectarines and apricots from frost.
Use a soft brush to hand pollinate blooms and increase chances of a good crop.
Plant containers with herbs. Plant mint separately in pots. Coriander, parsley, thyme, chives and tarragon can be planted too.
Prune plum and cherry trees as they are vulnerable to the 'silver leaf disease' if pruned in autumn or winter.
VEGETABLE GARDEN
Plant main crop potatoes, if you haven't already done so.
Cover shoots with fleece to protect from frost damage.
Sow runner beans, dwarf beans, mange-tout and garden peas.
Sow perpetual spinach, leeks, radish, turnips, lettuces, carrots, beetroot,Swiss chard and summer cauliflowers outside.
Sow more peas and broad beans; support early sown varieties.
Sow vegetable varieties that have inherent pest and disease resistance beetroot, carrot, cucumber and parsnip.
LAWNS, HEDGES & PATHS
New lawns can be sown now and thin ones can be patched up with more seed.
Be prepared to take time preparing a good seedbed, it pays in the long run.
Sow hard-wearing ryegrass based mixtures for lawns used by children and pets but fescue mixes for the best looking lawn.
Use turf for a quick result.
Trim lawn edges as this has a remarkable effect on the overall impact of your garden.
If the edges have become irregular, use a half moon edging knife (stainless steel ones are best) to sharpen them up.
THE GREENHOUSE
Prune side shoots back on grape vines to five leaves on non fruiting laterals and two buds beyond flower clusters.
Remove any bubble polythene insulation from your greenhouse and check that the ventilators work.
Now is the time to grow tomato, pepper and cucumber plants to grow in your greenhouse.
If it is unheated, keep the plants on a bright windowsill indoors.
Marrows, courgettes, pumpkins and squashes can be sown in individual pots towards the end of the month; these will need protection if sown outside.
Basil can be planted in pots or in the borders between tomatoes.
INDOOR PLANTS
If you have not yet re-potted any pot-bound plants, do it now.
As sunlight intensity increases, adjust location of indoor plants, particularly on south-facing window-sills.
SOIL
When the soil is dry, using a hoe to remove surface germinating weeds works wonders.
This is a good time to mulch rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and heathers with lime-free compost.
PONDS
Clean out dead leaves and stems from the pond. Thin out oxygenating plants and divide aquatic plants.
Leave as many pond insects and animals in the water as you can.
Adding a net filled with clean barley straw to ponds where the water has become green can help.
Divide and replant marginal plants if they are getting over-crowded.
Divide and replant water lilies.
Regularly clean out pond filters.
Remember to place a step or a log in the pond to help any animals who may fall in, to escape.
WILDLIFE
Keep feeding birds now they have young and will really benefit from help.
Keep a few corners wild and somewhat untidy; this will be preferred to tidy and intensively cultivated areas.
APRIL GARDEN CHORES:
- Weed and mulch.
- Ventilate the greenhouse on sunny days.
- Repair and re-shape lawn edges.
- Plant sweet peas and bedding plants.
- Prune winter-flowering shrubs.
- Lift, divide and feed bulbs.
- Protect fruit tree flowers from frost.
- Plant potatoes.
- Now is the time to plant new lawns and to feed and repair established lawns.
- Clean ponds, pond filters and divide and care for pond plants.
PATIOS & BORDERS
Mulch winter heathers with moss peat, which has a low pH and after flowering, trim the flowers off to keep the plants compact.
Plant out semi-hardy varieties of bedding plants such as antirrhinum, stocks, sweet williams, pansies and violas.
Plant out sweet peas and provide support for them to climb.
Plant out tender bedding plants in sheltered spots in your garden.
Beware of frosty nights so keep some bubble wrap handy to protect them.
Pinch out the shoot tips of bedding plants and hanging basket plants to encourage side shoots; this may delay flowering but will improve their performance.
Prick-out tender bedding plants; harden off earlier batches by putting them out by day and in by night for about a week.
Bedding plants should be safe outside, but watch weather forecast for frosts.
TREES & SHRUBS
Tie in shoots of clematis as they grow, and make sure their base is in the shade.
Keep weeding and mulching at the base of trees and shrubs.
PLANTING & PRUNING
Plant frost-tender shrubs such as lavender, sage, rosemary, osteospermum and hebes now.
Cut the old flowers off mahonias and a little of the stem too then it may encourage more branching.
Prune winter flowering jasmine and honeysuckle now; this will encourage new growth and give them time to initiate new flower buds for next year.
BULBS
Plant gladioli corms and dahlia tubers with 20 to 30cms of soil above them; this means that they can stay in the ground without having to lift them out to protect them from frost in winter.
Lift, divide and replant clumps of over-crowded bulbs.
Remove dead flower heads from bulbs; feed with a tomato liquid feed to build up the bulbs strength for next year.
Try to keep the leaves on the bulbs as long as possible so they can nourish the bulb via photosynthesis.
Lift and split daffodils to replant immediately; avoid damaging the roots as much as possible.
FRUIT GARDEN
Protect flowers on peaches, nectarines and apricots from frost.
Use a soft brush to hand pollinate blooms and increase chances of a good crop.
Plant containers with herbs. Plant mint separately in pots. Coriander, parsley, thyme, chives and tarragon can be planted too.
Prune plum and cherry trees as they are vulnerable to the 'silver leaf disease' if pruned in autumn or winter.
VEGETABLE GARDEN
Plant main crop potatoes, if you haven't already done so.
Cover shoots with fleece to protect from frost damage.
Sow runner beans, dwarf beans, mange-tout and garden peas.
Sow perpetual spinach, leeks, radish, turnips, lettuces, carrots, beetroot,Swiss chard and summer cauliflowers outside.
Sow more peas and broad beans; support early sown varieties.
Sow vegetable varieties that have inherent pest and disease resistance beetroot, carrot, cucumber and parsnip.
LAWNS, HEDGES & PATHS
New lawns can be sown now and thin ones can be patched up with more seed.
Be prepared to take time preparing a good seedbed, it pays in the long run.
Sow hard-wearing ryegrass based mixtures for lawns used by children and pets but fescue mixes for the best looking lawn.
Use turf for a quick result.
Trim lawn edges as this has a remarkable effect on the overall impact of your garden.
If the edges have become irregular, use a half moon edging knife (stainless steel ones are best) to sharpen them up.
THE GREENHOUSE
Prune side shoots back on grape vines to five leaves on non fruiting laterals and two buds beyond flower clusters.
Remove any bubble polythene insulation from your greenhouse and check that the ventilators work.
Now is the time to grow tomato, pepper and cucumber plants to grow in your greenhouse.
If it is unheated, keep the plants on a bright windowsill indoors.
Marrows, courgettes, pumpkins and squashes can be sown in individual pots towards the end of the month; these will need protection if sown outside.
Basil can be planted in pots or in the borders between tomatoes.
INDOOR PLANTS
If you have not yet re-potted any pot-bound plants, do it now.
As sunlight intensity increases, adjust location of indoor plants, particularly on south-facing window-sills.
SOIL
When the soil is dry, using a hoe to remove surface germinating weeds works wonders.
This is a good time to mulch rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and heathers with lime-free compost.
PONDS
Clean out dead leaves and stems from the pond. Thin out oxygenating plants and divide aquatic plants.
Leave as many pond insects and animals in the water as you can.
Adding a net filled with clean barley straw to ponds where the water has become green can help.
Divide and replant marginal plants if they are getting over-crowded.
Divide and replant water lilies.
Regularly clean out pond filters.
Remember to place a step or a log in the pond to help any animals who may fall in, to escape.
WILDLIFE
Keep feeding birds now they have young and will really benefit from help.
Keep a few corners wild and somewhat untidy; this will be preferred to tidy and intensively cultivated areas.
APRIL GARDEN CHORES:
- Prepare and check garden tools, ready for Spring.
- Now is the time to get the lawnmower blades sharpened or the lawnmower serviced.
- Continue to weed and look out for tenacious brambles and invasive weeds.