Gardening tips for April

Snow, ground frosts, rain and blue skies – who knew that April could get off to such a mixed start and it’s snow joke when the growing season is well underway!

If you have been unfortunate to receive more than just a sprinkling of snow or a good hard frost, it may delay some of your sowing plans as the soil will need to warm up. Hopefully as we head towards mid-April the gardens will be blooming and we’ll soon be seeing fresh new shoots as we reap the benefits of early sowing.

There is nothing more satisfying than seeing new crops pushing through and new flowers popping up after all the work during the colder months, and now April is here, it’s full steam ahead!

After the upheaval of the first few days of April, keep an eye on the weather forecast for late ground frosts which could potentially damage less-hardy plants. We also need to be vigilant as those pesky pests start to make an appearance right about now and could undo all our hard work.

Now is the time to get a wiggle on as we hurtle into April. Where have the past three months gone?

Blooming lovely:

• Continue to deadhead late winter and early spring flowers such as narcissus and tulips.
• If you have grown sweet peas from seed in the autumn, these can now be sown outside if the weather is fine. Ensure you sow close to the base of their supports to encourage upward growth.
• In mild areas, you can start to look at planting up summer hanging baskets with a slow-release feed such as Organic Bonemeal.
• Remove winter bedding that didn’t survive the colder months and hoe the border.  If you want to replace some of the lost nutrients in the soil, sprinkle in a couple of handfuls of 6X Pelleted Poultry Manure and lightly dig over. 
• Hard prune roses and lingering dead leaves. They will also benefit from a spring feed such as Organic Rose Feed. This slow-release fertiliser will not only condition the soil, but also slowly release nutrients for bountiful blooms throughout the growing season.
• Now is the time to lift and divide established border plants such as hostas and other plants such as primroses once they’ve stopped flowering. 
• Plant lily bulbs. If you want your lilies to feature on your patio or decking, plant in pots so they are easy to move.
• If you have rhododendrons, azaleas etc, feed with a specialist fertiliser such as Azalea, Rhododendron & Shrub Fertiliser. It can also double up as feed for blueberry and raspberry plants. 
• It’s never too early to think about summer flowering bulbs such as petunias and begonias, but hurry it may be your last chance to order!
• Sow hardy annuals, such as cornflower and cosmos. 
• If frost is forecast, then protect plants which are not frost-hardy. 
• As we head towards the end of the month, and if the weather is mild, look to plant out dahlia tubers.

Fruit & Veg:

• Protect blossom on fruit trees from late frosts with a fleece or similar covering.
• It’s sow time, not snow time! Sow beetroot, peas, carrots etc directly into the soil. Add a handful of Vitax Q4 to the soil for an added boost.
• Onion and shallot sets can now be planted too.
• After you have cleaned the greenhouse with a good greenhouse disinfectant to remove the debris from autumn and winter planting, tomatoes, marrows and pumpkins can all now be planted in the warmth of the greenhouse or propagator. 
• As the soil starts to warm, add mulches around fruit bushes and established trees for extra, organic nutrients.
• Strawberries are great to grow in the garden, but are a slug favourite. Plant them in hanging baskets, they will look fabulous, but also keep slugs at bay. Or plant undercover to keep warm and promote early growth.
• If you grow citrus, you will know they are hungry plants! Feed regularly with Citrus Summer Feed to support growth and fruiting.
• Sow herbs such as thyme, dill and parsley. 

Pests & weeds:

• As the garden starts to wake, so do the pesky pests that could ruin months of hard work in a matter of hours! The weather is warmer, but also wet, so slugs and snails will be making an appearance, if they haven’t already. Hostas and new shoots tend to be a slug’s favourite meal, so protect with an organic deterrent such as Slug Gone.
• Aphids will be on the march this month and whilst many people pick them off, spray plants with Organic Plant Guard to remove and protect against future attacks. 
• If you’ve noticed your plants are wilting, check for vine weevil. Again, these can be picked off by hand but if in pots, remove the plant and re-pot with new soil or compost.
• April sees a vigorous return of weeds. Keep on top of these as you go or they will run rampant. Weed as you go!

Lawn:

• The birds are probably doing a good job of pulling up moss out of your lawned areas, but now is a good time to rake off and remove any dead moss. Alternatively you can use Vitax Moss Remover No Rake which makes light work of any areas with heavy moss growth.
• It’s time to mow! Ensure you set the blades relatively high and take the top of the lawn when the weather is warmer and the grass is dry.
• If the soil is warm and moist and the lawn is showing signs of wear and tear, April is the time to sow new lawn seed.

Wow, what a month April is going to be! Let’s dust off those tools and start as we mean to go on – happy gardening!