APRIL: At long last, spring has arrived! (or has it?) As you look out upon your garden, does the nagging question of “Where do I even begin” sound familiar? There is so much to do in every corner of the garden this month that it is difficult to know where to start.
The garden really comes alive in April and the number of tasks to be carried out is considerable. Making the best use of the lengthening days is a bonus and, providing the weather stays fair, it can be a brilliant gardening month.
Hard pruning
Hard prune tall old stems on Buddleja Davidii, Leycesteria Formosa and other fast-growing shrubs that flower on new wood. Many dogwoods and willows, grown as clumps and valued for their colourful winter stems, should also be cut back hard now, right down to a stubby base, about 30cm (12in) from the ground. Other shrubs that respond well to hard pruning include the golden-leaved elder, smoke bush and purple hazel, which will then produce fresh young growth and often brighter and larger leaves.
Time to get sowing
Sow tomato plants in a warm place for growing in unheated greenhouses or planting outside in early June. Also sow aubergines, capsicum, celeriac, peppers and celery. Cucumbers and melons can be sown in late April. Half-hardy bedding plants can also be sown this month in trays in the greenhouse or on window-sills. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick out into small individual pots or space out in seed trays. If bushy plants need more space, pot up on their own. Water regularly and feed weekly.Crops to sow outside or under cloches in March and early April include mangetout, broad beans, beetroot, lettuce, parsnips, onions, peas, spinach, radish, turnips and herbs. Sow Brussel sprouts, summer cauliflower and cabbage in a seedbed to transplant to final positions in May.
Give lawns a rake over
Months of wet weather will have caused moss to become a problem in many lawns. Thick moss quickly smothers out grass, so action is needed this spring to remove it, boost grass growth and improve surface drainage across the lawn. Chemical moss killers can be used to destroy existing moss, but this will still need to be raked out. Far better to use a powered lawn rake to scarify the lawn, raking out moss and debris. Afterwards, fork over the whole area to improve surface drainage. Increase frequency of mowing as growth dictates. Later in April or early May, apply fertiliser and check regularly for weeds, digging out any that you find.
April is a very important month in the garden and any time spent in the garden now saves a lot of trying to catch up later on in the year.
As always, if you haven’t got the time but you like the idea of a beautiful garden, CONTACT US to book a free consultation or quote or give us a call.