April Gardening Advice

Now that the clocks have changed and we’re ‘springing forward’ towards better weather (hopefully), you’ll finally start to see your hard work from the winter months appearing as bright foliage and striking blossoms in your garden. But it’s not time to sit back and enjoy it just yet, there are plenty of jobs to do this month. 

You can still buy and plant bare root and root ball hedging which has been stored in cool conditions to preserve dormancy, however it won't be long until season end so if you need some for your garden, grab them quick!

Moving evergreen shrubs is still possible early in the month as long as the new planting site is not waterlogged. If you do move any, make sure to feed and water afterwards to give them a head start in their new home.

If you didn't do so after flowering last year, now is a good time to give your Lavender shrubs a light trim to prevent woody/leggy growth.

It's an ideal time to plant pot-grown hedging, shrubs, trees and climbers in the garden, but make sure you are thorough with your aftercare as the plants will need more water to help them establish as the weather improves.

When planting new hedges, shrubs or climbers, don’t forget to use canes and rabbit guards to prevent damage if you live in an area where rabbits are an issue. Canes can also be used to support new plants in windier areas.

There’s still time to trim your perennials and ornamental grasses, removing any dead or diseased foliage. A good tidy up and cut back now, means lots of healthy growth later.

Early spring is the perfect time to lay new turf as little mowing is required at this time. You'll need to make sure there's some dry and mild weather in the foreacst though as too much rain leading to waterlogged soil or cold frosts will set your lawn back and stop it establishing well. You do however need to stay on top of your watering if the conditions remain dry, especially during the hotter months of summer.

A high-nitrogen fertiliser applied in April can give your lawn a well-needed boost ready for the new season.

Repair any bare patches and tidy your lawn edges. This month is also a good time to use a weedkiller or mosskiller on your lawn – always use the recommended quantities given on the packet and follow the instructions.

Make sure you regularly check your pots, beds and borders for weeds and remove any growth as soon as you spot it. Otherwise those weeds will take nutrients needed for newly added plants preventing them from growing as they should.

There’s still a slight risk of frosts in April, so be prepared to protect any fruit blossom if late frosts are forecast.

The only downside of warmer weather can be the insects that arrive with it. Keep a look out for caterpillars, aphids, slugs and other garden pests as they are often easy to get rid of by hand, especially when the infestation is new.

Although the sun isn’t cracking the flags just yet, the temperature has still risen slightly so check your containers regularly to see if they need watering – they can dry out quite quickly even at this time of year.

April isn't all about your plants - give your fences some attention by treating them with a preservative and applying a fresh coat of paint, so they're spruced up for summer!

Algae normally starts to grow in spring so you may notice the water in your pond adopting a green tinge – don’t worry, this is normal. It should calm down after a few weeks but if it continues to grow, you can add oxygenating plants to help clear the water.

Spring is the perfect time to build a bug box. Building a home for nature will encourage a variety of helpful insects such as ladybirds and bees into your garden and it’s a great way to increase the biodiversity in your space.

Make sure your bird baths are clean and filled 

Turn your garden into a hedgehog haven.

If you want more information about any of these gardening jobs, or have a question relating to your garden, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.