April

Garden Tasks for April

• Sow hardy annuals, herbs and wild flower seed outdoors including  sunflowers, sweet peas, poppies, and cornflowers.

• Sow grass seed for new lawns or bare patches and apply a high-nitrogen fertiliser to mature lawns.

• Deadhead spring bulbs.

• Prune hydrangeas back to a strong lower branch.

• Prune forsythia once it's finished flowering, 

• Lift and divide clumps of border perennials such as hostas.

• Divide primroses once they have finished flowering.

• Plant snowdrops in the green.

• Plant or relocate evergreen trees and shrubs, though not if the soil is frozen.

• Feed trees, shrubs and hedges with a slow-release fertiliser.

• Protect fruit blossom from late frosts with horticultural fleece.

• Put collars around the stems of brassicas to stop cabbage root fly laying eggs. 

• Sow batches of salad leaves outside.

• Sow beans, cucumbers, squash, courgettes and sweetcorn in pots indoors or in a greenhouse.

• Re-pot houseplants that are root-bound and top dress large pots with new compost.