Open today 9:00 - 17:00
Open today 9:00 - 17:00
April brings longer days, warming soil and increasingly active growth across the garden. It is an important month for sowing and planting, tending emerging perennials and lawns, and preparing for the growing season, but late frosts and spells of cold or wet weather can still affect what can safely be done.
Container-grown trees and shrubs can be planted in April while the soil is warming and usually still holds plenty of moisture. Water newly planted specimens during dry spells, particularly as temperatures begin to rise.
April is a good time to plant lavender as the soil warms. Choose a sunny position with free-draining soil and avoid sites that remain wet.
Divide established perennials that have become overcrowded, are flowering poorly or have outgrown their space. Hostas can be divided as they come into active growth, along with many other suitable herbaceous perennials.
Add supports around tall or floppy perennials while the new shoots are still short. Plants will grow through and disguise the supports as the season progresses.
Tie new growth from climbers to their supports before stems become difficult to manage. Climbing and rambling rose stems can be trained towards the horizontal to encourage flowering side shoots.
Prune shrubs such as forsythia and flowering quince once their flowers have faded. Avoid pruning them before flowering, as this would remove much of the current year’s display.
Shrubs grown for colourful winter stems, including many dogwoods and willows, can still be cut back at the beginning of April if this has not already been done. Hard pruning encourages vigorous new stems with good winter colour.
Once fresh growth is clearly visible and the worst risk of severe frost has passed, remove the old stems from penstemons, cutting just above healthy new shoots.
Lightly trim untidy or frost-damaged lavender as new growth begins, taking care not to cut back into old woody stems that have no visible shoots.
Sow hardy annuals such as poppies, cornflowers and nigella outdoors where conditions are suitable. In colder areas or where soil remains wet, delay sowing until the ground has warmed and become workable.
Continue planting summer-flowering bulbs and corms such as gladioli. Tender types started in containers may need protection until the risk of frost has passed.
→ Read our guide to summer bulbs
Remove faded flowers from daffodils and other spring bulbs, but leave the foliage intact until it dies back naturally. The leaves continue to feed the bulbs for next year’s display.
Hoe or hand-weed beds and borders while weeds are still small and before they have a chance to flower and set seed. Mulching bare soil can also help suppress new weed growth and conserve moisture.
Prepare ground for sowing and planting by removing weeds and incorporating well-rotted organic matter where needed. Avoid cultivating soil while it is saturated, as working very wet ground can damage its structure.
Many hardy vegetables can be sown directly outdoors during April, including carrots, beetroot, peas, radishes, lettuce, Swiss chard and turnips. Allow for local conditions and delay sowing if the soil remains cold or waterlogged.
Plant second early potatoes during the first part of April and maincrop potatoes later in the month, adjusting the timing for local conditions and the variety being grown.
Late frosts can damage blossom on fruit trees and reduce the crop. Where practical, protect vulnerable blossom overnight with horticultural fleece, removing it during the day so pollinating insects can reach the flowers.
Sow courgettes, pumpkins, squash and cucumbers under cover for planting outside after the danger of frost has passed. Tomatoes can also be sown or grown on under protection this month.
Plant onion and shallot sets into prepared soil if this has not already been done. Choose a sunny, well-drained position and avoid planting into saturated ground.
As grass begins to grow more strongly, mow established lawns as needed, keeping the blades relatively high at first rather than cutting the grass too short. Leave areas containing flowering spring bulbs uncut until their foliage has had time to die back.
April is a useful time to reseed bare or worn patches once the soil has warmed. Delay sowing if conditions remain cold or very wet, as grass seed will establish poorly.
Rake out accumulated debris where necessary and aerate areas of compacted lawn to improve drainage and allow air to reach the roots. Avoid heavy work when the ground is wet enough to be damaged underfoot.
Check seedlings and young plants regularly and move them into larger pots when they have outgrown their existing containers. Give tender plants plenty of light while continuing to protect them from cold nights.
Open greenhouse vents and doors on warm days to prevent temperatures rising too quickly and to improve air circulation. Close them again as temperatures fall later in the day.
Plants in pots and under cover begin using more water as temperatures, daylight and growth increase. Check compost regularly rather than watering to a fixed schedule, as April conditions can still vary considerably.
Bird nesting activity increases during spring, so check hedges, shrubs and climbers carefully before pruning or carrying out other work that could disturb an active nest.
Keep horticultural fleece or other suitable protection available for vulnerable young growth and tender plants. April can bring warm days followed by surprisingly cold nights, particularly in frost-prone gardens.
Apply a layer of garden compost or other suitable organic mulch around established plants while the soil is moist and before summer growth fills the borders. Mulching helps retain moisture and suppress weeds as conditions become warmer.
Visit us in Kington for plants, seeds, compost, tools and garden care products, along with practical advice for your spring gardening.
