gardening jobs for April

By April, spring is in full swing, and our gardens should really feel like they're starting to take shape. With the warmer nights setting in and brighter days, there's a lot to get stuck in to for gardening jobs for April.

Planting & Cutting Back

It's time to plant your herbaceous perennial plants, whether that's potted plants or bare roots or even summer-flowering bulbs. It's best to get them in now, before it gets too warm, to give the roots a real chance to get growing! It's also a fantastic time to cut back faded perennials if you haven't already, especially as you see the fresh crown of green growth emerging. Pruning may also aid in creating bushier plants, ready for summer.

Dividing perennials

it's your last chance to divide clumps of perennial plants that you wish to propagate that have outgrown their planting area. The ground will be warm and there will be plenty of rootgrowth that has occured over the autumn and winter months for you to easily split your perennials.

Weed control!

Remove weeds as you see them as they can become prevalent during this time of year, it's a prevantative measure as opposed to a permanent one. For best results, make sure to lift the whole root of the weed. Alternatively, before planting new borders, add a layer of weed stop first! Finally, if you love your bumble bees and can cope with some Dandelions hanging about, they will love you for it. (Totally optional though, it's a marmite plant to have in the garden!)

Water your plants

Provide water to plants that are looking a little dry, especially those that are planted in containers, it's amazing how dry plants can get from just brisk winds. Careful for late frosts, especially if you've brought out tender plants when watering.

First feed of the year

April is officially the start of 'feeding' season for your plants. The ground will be warm enough for roots to take up nutrients or enough foliage to soak ujp foliar feeds. Try not to over-feed your plants, simply do as directed on the packets as too much can create the opposite effect. General rule of thumb, feeds higher in potassium will aid more flowering growth (a balanced feed will do this too), whilst higher in Nitrogen feeds will aid more green growth.

Improving your soil

Load on the organic matter and mulch to your borders if you haven't already, turn it over in your borders, or add as a layer to your potted plants, it may give a little boost to the nutrients in the soil as well as providing moisture retentative qualities and even drainage from aerating the soil. What's aerating you ask? Adding 'air' to the soil, simply by using a garden fork and adding small holes to the soil or even loosening and turning over the soil will really help. Try not to walk back over these areas, especially if there's clay or heavy rain due, it may compact it more!

Supports for climbers

It's important to remember your climbing plants this time of year, particularly if you wish to train them as they start to grow. Identify whether the plants require tying into sturdier supports, or whether they just need canes to self climb (like Sweet Peas).

Summer bedding introductions!

Now, whilst there may still be some cooler nights ahead (be careful if planting outside) it's time to consider bringing out your summer bedding, even if it's hardening them off during the day time. Whether you've purchased young plants from us, or grown them on as seedlings, it's an important step that they will benefit from in the long run! Just ensure to pot on your young plants first before planting directly in the ground, it will benefit the roots of the plants.