April
April brings the primrose sweet, Scatters daisies at our feet.
— Sara Coleridge, The Garden Year (1834)
Spring gathers pace
April brings longer days, rising temperatures and increasingly rapid growth throughout the garden. Borders are filling out, climbers are stretching upwards and spring flowers are putting on their display.
It is an excellent month for preparing soil, feeding established plants and getting everything ready for the growing season ahead.
Give the greenhouse a spring clean
Before the greenhouse becomes crowded with plants, give it a thorough clean using hot soapy water.
Cleaning the glass removes accumulated dirt and helps maximise the available light, while cleaning surfaces, staging and other areas can help remove overwintering pests.
Prepare your beds
Get flower beds and growing areas ready by digging in compost or well-rotted manure.
Adding organic matter improves the soil and prepares it for the vigorous plant growth that comes with warmer spring weather.
Feed trees, shrubs and roses
Established plants are beginning a period of strong growth.
Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser to trees, shrubs and roses, following the recommended application rate. This provides nutrients as plants develop new foliage and flowers.
Divide overcrowded perennials
April is a good time to lift and divide overcrowded perennial plants such as hostas.
Dividing congested clumps can rejuvenate established plants while giving you additional plants for other parts of the garden or to share with someone else.
Support climbing plants
Climbing roses, clematis and honeysuckle can produce considerable new growth as temperatures rise.
Tie in new shoots as they develop, directing them towards their supports and securing them carefully without damaging tender stems.
Encourage bushier plants
Pinch out the growing tips of sweet peas and fuchsias where appropriate to encourage branching.
This can produce bushier plants with more flowering growth later in the season.
Look after spring bulbs
As daffodils and tulips finish flowering, remove the dead flower heads but resist the temptation to cut back their leaves.
Allow the foliage to die back naturally so that it can continue feeding the bulb and building up energy for next year's flowers.
Prune spring-flowering shrubs
Shrubs such as forsythia can be pruned after flowering.
Removing appropriate older growth after the flowers fade gives the plant plenty of time to produce the new growth that will carry flowers next spring.
Check young trees
Inspect the stakes and ties on young trees.
As trunks and branches grow, ties that were previously suitable can become restrictive. Loosen or adjust them where necessary while making sure the tree remains adequately supported.
Apply a spring mulch
Finish preparing beds and borders by applying a mulch of compost or well-rotted manure.
Mulching adds organic matter, helps retain moisture and can suppress weeds as the growing season gets underway.
Wildlife to look out for
April brings a noticeable increase in garden wildlife.
Bees, hoverflies and butterflies become increasingly active as more flowers provide nectar and pollen. Spring-flowering plants can be particularly valuable to insects emerging after winter.
Many garden birds are now nesting. You may see blackbirds, robins, tits and other species collecting nesting material or carrying food. Check carefully for active nests before cutting hedges or dense vegetation.
Garden ponds can be particularly lively. Frog tadpoles may be developing, while toads and newts can also be active in and around the water.
Hedgehogs are increasingly likely to be active after dark as temperatures rise. Providing fresh water and maintaining gaps through which they can move between gardens can help them.
One last tip
April weather can change quickly. Warm sunshine can be followed by cold nights, strong winds or even frost.
Enjoy the burst of spring growth, but keep an eye on the forecast and protect vulnerable plants when necessary.
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