‘Spring’ into Action: Essential jobs in your garden this April

Ah, April: the month when the days get noticeably longer, the temperatures rise (hopefully) and the garden really comes back to life.  It’s a fantastic time to get outside, breathe in some fresh spring air  and crack on with those essential gardening tasks. Whether you’re a green-fingered guru or just getting into the swing of things, here are five key jobs to tackle in your garden this April.

Weeding

No one enjoys weeding, do they, except perhaps that feeling of satisfaction when you’ve finished!  However, if you get on top of it now, you’ll save yourself a lot of time and effort later. Those pesky weeds spring up fast, especially now, so take a bit of time to pull them out or dig them up (don’t leave any roots in the ground) before they take over.  Once you’ve cleared them, your plants will thank you for adding a layer of mulch (compost, bark or well-rotted manure) around them. This helps keep the soil moist and suppresses any more weeds from popping up. Result!

Sowing Seeds

April is prime time for sowing seeds, especially if you’re keen on growing your own fruit and veg. Hardy veggies like carrots, beetroot, parsnips and radishes can go straight into the ground now, while tender crops like tomatoes and courgettes are best started off indoors or in a greenhouse. Don’t forget to plant your seed potatoes, too.  They’ll be ready to harvest in the summer for some delicious homegrown chips or roasties.  If you haven’t chitted (started sprouting) any potatoes yet, it’s not too late to start some second early or maincrop varieties.

If you need some guidance on what time of year to sow which seeds, try this. And we’ve got some veg seedlings in centre right now to give you a head start.  Choose from either single pots or 6-packs of a variety of tomatoes and much more!

Pruning and Deadheading

Your shrubs and perennials might look a little worse for wear after winter, so now’s the time to give them a good tidy-up.  The insects in your garden will have been grateful you haven’t done it any earlier but, now the temperature is regularly above 10’C, they will be looking to move home anyway.  Cut back any dead growth, remove any damaged branches and deadhead early spring flowers like daffodils and primulas to keep them looking neat. This not only improves the appearance of your plants but also encourages fresh growth and a longer flowering season.  Deadheading spring bulbs but leaving the foliage also ensures enough energy is returned to the bulb to produce a good show next year, too.

Lawn Care: time for a trim?

If your lawn is looking a bit sad and patchy after winter, April is the month to give it some TLC.  Give it a good rake to remove dead grass, thatch and moss then mow it on a high setting (don’t go too short straight away) to collect it all and help it dry out.  You can also seed any bare patches, or lay turf if you need to.  For an established lawn, think about giving it a feed with a spring lawn fertiliser to get it looking lush again.

Sort Out Your Beds and Borders

Spring is the perfect time to refresh your flower beds and borders. Dig over the soil to loosen it up, add some compost or manure to improve fertility, and get planting! Hardy annuals like sweet peas and marigolds can go in now, if they have been hardened off already, and you can divide clumps of perennials to give them a new lease of life. If you fancy a bit of colour, pop in some early-flowering perennials for an instant spring boost.

Find out what we’d plant in April here.  And if you do your gardening in pots, try our guide to choosing the right pots and planters here.

Final Thoughts

Remember that Easter is later this year – 20^th April.  If you fancy skipping the commercial chocolate eggs this year, why not pop into the Garden Centre to browse our lovely gift items – sure to last longer and make any gardeners happier than choccie!

April is always a busy but exciting time in the garden.  With a bit of effort now, you’ll set yourself up for a summer of vibrant flowers, tasty homegrown veg and a garden you’ll love spending time in. So grab your gloves, dig out your tools, and get stuck in – your garden (and future self) will thank you for it!