What to do in the garden in April

Van Meuwen

9 months ago

Spring’s in full swing this month, so keep on top of your planting, sowing and weeding.
Image source: Umaporn Tepumong

April’s a busy time in the garden, so make sure you dodge the sofa and get planting.

For a beautiful display, make sure your Lily bulbs are planted in April.
Image source: Muskoka Stock Photos

Lift, divide and plant herbaceous perennials now. To find out more about growing perennial plants take a look at our handy guide.
Plant summer-flowering bulbs now, such as Lilies, Gladiolus and Freesias. Read our handy guide for help with planting bulbs.
Tie in climbing and rambling roses to their supports. Laying the stems more horizontally encourages heavy flowering.
Direct-sow hardy annual seeds now in well-prepared soil for colourful summer flowers. Mark out areas for each type of flower with sand or twigs then sow your hardy annuals in rows within these areas. Thin out the seedlings as they grow to allow a final spacing of about 15-30cm depending on the plant’s eventual size.
Brighten up your patio with bedding plants used in hanging baskets, containers and flower pouches.
Now is your last chance to order plug plants online for vibrant colour this summer.

Take the hassle off growing tomatoes with ‘Sweet Aperitif’ cherry tomatoes.
Image source: ‘Sweet Aperitif’ tomatoes by Van Meuwen

Sprinkle a slow-release fertiliser around the base of your strawberry plants, raspberry canes, fruit trees and fruit bushes, followed by a mulch of well-rotted manure or compost for bumper crops this year.
Continue to plant out your chitted potatoes into potato grow bags or in the ground. Plant the tubers with the sprouts upright and at a depth of 10-15cm. For more help with growing potatoes read our ‘How to grow potatoes’ guide.
Take the hassle out of sowing seeds and order our ‘Sweet Aperitif’ tomato plants for your summer salads this year!
Now is also your last chance to order vegetable plants such as cucumbers, dwarf beans and courgettes.

Make sure your trees are prepared for any dry weather with mulching.
Image source: Ozgur Coskun

Now is the time to move evergreen shrubs and trees if desired, although make sure the soil isn’t waterlogged or frozen. Try to take as much of the root ball as you can to help the plant establish quickly in its new home.
Mulch around your trees, shrubs and perennials to help retain moisture in the soil during dry weather.

Keep young plants and seedlings away from hungry snails.
Image source: Pictures_for_You

April is the ideal month to sow a new lawn from seed or lay new turf. Make sure you keep the soil moist to help the grass establish well. When laying a new lawn try using lawn edging to define the area and make maintenance easier.
Make sure you protect young plants from slugs and snails.

Do you have any further jobs you like to complete in April? Let us know in the comments below, or share them with us over on our Facebook page.