What Gardening jobs to do in April?
April arrives with a quiet sense of momentum as almost overnight the garden begins to move again – not surprising then that there are many garden tasks in April to be done! It is a month of promise, but also one of purpose; what we do now shapes the abundance of summer.
I find it’s very satisfying to begin with a gentle tidy. The skeletal stems and grasses left for winter structure can be cut back, revealing the tight buds and new shoots beneath. Yet April gardening is as much about restraint as action. Beneath fallen leaves and within hollow stems, insects are waking, and a thoughtful gardener clears carefully, composting healthy debris which will eventually return nutrients to the soil. A generous mulch of last year’s compost or well-rotted manure spread around the borders will improve structure, conserve moisture and feed plants steadily as the temperature rises.
What can be Sown in April?
Once the winter debris is cleared, hardy annuals such as cornflowers, calendula, love-in-a-mist, nasturtium, sunflowers, and sweet peas can be scattered directly where they are to flower, threading colour informally through borders. Make sure the soil is well prepared and weed free and sprinkle the seeds where you wish. The only thing you need to do is make sure that they are well-watered and kept weed free. If you’re not sure which are weeds, a good rule of thumb is the weeds are usually the things that are growing quickest!
Other Garden Tasks in April
Climbing roses, clematis and climbing vegetables, such as cucumbers, tomatoes and beans benefit from being tied in before their stems become unruly, and sturdy supports placed discreetly among herbaceous plants now will spare a lot of trouble later.
Slugs and snails, especially if we have some April showers, will make their presence known with large holes in new leaves. It becomes a matter of gentle management rather than warfare. Encourage birds to feast by leaving out shallow containers of water and check pots or other dark places where the gardener’s enemies might be hiding – dispose of them as you will!
What to Plant in April
In the vegetable garden plant hardy crops directly outdoors, including potatoes, onions, carrots, peas and spinach, while starting tender vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and courgettes under cover. As soil warms, it is an ideal time for sowing lettuce, radish, beetroot, and planting asparagus crowns. If you are planting asparagus for the first time, you must resist the urge to pick the stems in the first year. They need to build up strength before you can harvest them. The same applies to rhubarb, I know it’s tempting but you will be grateful nest year when your crop will be strong and healthy!
Lawns too demand attention as one of the primary garden tasks in April. The first thing to do is rake it vigorously with a spring tine lawn rake. It’s best to buy a sturdy one, such as this for the job because it can be back breaking! Leaving winter debris on your lawn will make it difficult for the young grass shoots to emerge. Once it has been raked, any bare patches can be reseeded and give the lawn a dressing with spring lawn food, available in garden centres now. The first cuts of the season restore neatness and rhythm to the garden; I think there’s something deeply cheering about the scent of newly cut grass carried on mild air. If you can bear a bit of untidiness, leave parts of the lawn edge to grow longer for wildlife to enjoy.
Take Time to Enjoy those Garden Tasks in April!
To garden in April is to participate in the unfolding of nature. It is a month of sowing, feeding, staking and tending but also of standing still for a moment, listening to bees newly returned to work, and recognising that the gardening year has truly begun.
With longer daylight hours, hard landscaping projects can begin before peak summer demand. If you’re considering a garden redesign in Buckinghamshire, early spring is the best time to book. If you live in the Buckinghamshire area, we’d love to hear from you! Contact us on 01993 813721. Or use our contact form here.