Welcome to my April Gardening Post
Lawn are growing well now, so a good time to give them an annual feed and weed, tidy edges and re-seed any bare patches if necessary. Don’t mow them too short yet.
Early flowering shrubs such as Forsythia and winter Jasmine can be pruned when they have finished flowering.
Rose pruning, (shrubs) if not already done, get on with it now! Then give them all a good feed. There are several brands of feed specifically for Roses. Irises like a feed of Sulphate of Potash now and Clematis love a dose of Tomorite. If you didn’t prune your Lavender last Autumn, then this can also be done now, but only by about 2.5 cms
There is still time to lift and divide perennials, but be quick!
We don’t do much vegetable growing, but my potatoes are chitting well so if the weather permits I’ll be getting them into the ground the first weekend of the month and I shall be preparing my small patch for direct sowing and erecting supports such as pea sticks and wigwams for peas and beans. It’s a good time to start sowing vegetable seeds under cover, leave tender vegetables such as runner beans, squashes and courgettes until nearer the end of the month.
We just finished potting up our Dahlias now to give them an early start before planting in the garden in May/ June when all chance of frost has gone.
Due to the mild weather, everything seems to be romping ahead including weeds, so plenty of weeding to be done and also deadheading of daffodils (which can also be given a foliar feed before the leaves die down, to help with the production of more flowers next year).
Don’t forget, we can still get frosts up until the end of May, so don’t rush to put those tender plants out too soon.
Ten Tips for April
Keep weeds under control
Protect fruit blossom from late frosts
Tie in Climber and Rambler roses if not already done.
Sow hardy annuals, herbs and wild flower seeds outdoors
Feed Roses and Shrubs
Sow new lawns and carry out repairs
Prune Fig trees
Prune Lavender
Deadhead bulbs
If the weather is dry remember to water pots and containers