April hints

    General
  • As the weather warms up keep on top of weeding as they will appear & grow in a couple of days. Hoeing on dry days works wonders as it also allows air into the top surface and keeps it open for watering.
  • Apply a good thick layer of mulch around plants to reduce the weeds but preserve the moisture in the soil
  • Acer bushes will have some dead ends, prune these back to a good leaf joint.
  • Plant up hanging baskets & planters with a splash of colourful summer bedding plants. My favourites are tuberous upright & trailing begonias as they dead head themselves. Vegetable Garden
  • Sow or plant runner beans early in the month, they will soon overtake those planted when it was too cold.
  • Sow salad leaves, this can be in a large pot or trough and repeat every 2 to 3 weeks.
  • Plant out courgettes and sow some winter squash
  • Sow a row of peas and repeat in 2 weeks
  • Towards the end of June plant Leeks, this helps to stop them from bolting
  • Dig the first early potatoes
    • Lawns
  • Cut on high settings as to short and the weeds will come in
  • Apply a lawn feed but water in if it doesn’t rain
  • Fork any areas that are constantly used as path ways or were always wet in winter to reduce compaction
  • Re seed areas that have died off
  • Visit and support your local independent nursery as their knowledgeable staff will always give advice freely and the plants that they grow are the ones that will grow in your area the best.
  • Reduce how often you cut the grass as the weather heats up, slightly longer grass will hold moisture closer to the soil surface, or leave an area to grow and set seed for the wild life
    • Vegetable Garden
  • Start to crop all those delicious vegetables you have been growing
  • It was a very cold spring and many seeds did not germinate, make a note for next year and watch your local weather before sowing, later sown vegetables always catch up the early ones.
  • Take out side shoots on tomatoes and feed regularly
  • Plant winter squash and kale this month
  • Summer prune Apple and pear trees
  • Protect soft fruits from birds
  • Sit back and enjoy the effort you have put into your garden over the year and be inspired by the wonders of nature that you have helped along the way