Gardening Jobs: April

Flowers

• Sow hardy annuals, such as love-in-a-mist and pot marigolds, as well as native wildflowers, into gaps in borders
• Enjoy instant colour by planting primulas and polyanthus in pots and at the front of borders
• Protect the new shoots of hostas, delphiniums, lupins and other vulnerable plants from slugs and snails
• Continue deadheading spring bulbs and bedding, so they don’t waste energy setting seed
• Plant pineapple lily (eucomis) bulbs in pots for exotic-looking summer flowers
• Sow sweet peas at the base of supports, and transplant those sown in autumn into their final positions
• Spray the new leaves of disease-prone roses with fungicide to control mildew, rust and black spot
• Take basal cuttings from clumps of perennials, such as delphiniums, campanulas and lupins
• Prune hydrangeas, cutting back the old stems to a healthy shoot lower down
• Reinvigorate mature clumps of hardy perennials, such as hostas, asters and daylilies, by dividing and replanting
• Sow sunflowers in a sunny, open site, then water regularly and protect seedlings from slugs and snails
• Check for aphids on roses and rub them off before they develop into major infestations
• Add aquatic plants, such as waterlilies and irises, to garden ponds

Fruit and veg

• Plant second-early and maincrop potatoes
• Place cardboard collars around the stems of brassicas to deter cabbage root fly from laying their eggs
• Pinch out the tips of broad beans if they’re covered in aphids, or spray shoots with soap-based solution
• Sow outdoor varieties of tomatoes, chillies and courgettes in pots, so they’re ready to plant out in late May or June
• Divide clumps of hardy herbs, such as lemon balm and chives, then replant in pots, borders or a dedicated herb bed
• Sow small batches of rocket and other easy salad leaves
• Continue planting bare-root asparagus crowns and Jerusalem artichoke tubers
• Sow flowering companions in the veg plot, such as pot marigolds and borage
• Continue planting batches of garlic, shallots and onions every few weeks to extend the cropping period
• Sow herbs such as parsley, coriander, dill and chamomile in a sunny bed or container
• Protect emerging seedlings from slugs and snails
• Sow fast-growing crops, such as radishes, to make the most of any temporary gaps

Greenhouse

• Prick out seedlings growing in pots and trays as soon as they produce their first true leaves
• Sow sweet peas in deep pots and keep them frost-free in a greenhouse or on a sunny windowsill
• Sow quick-growing microgreens, such as kale and mustard, for nutrient-rich pickings in just a few weeks
• Transplant greenhouse tomatoes into growing bags or large containers and tie in the stems to supports
• Plant up hanging baskets and pots with summer bedding, but keep indoors until after the last frost
• Sow herbs in pots or trays, including basil, chives, parsley, fennel and coriander
• Thin out heavy fruit sets on peaches and nectarines, leaving fruits about 10cm apart
• Sow runner beans, French beans, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins and sweetcorn in pots
• Pinch out the shoot tips of fuchsias to develop bushier plants
• Attach guttering to the greenhouse and install a water butt, so you can make good use of April showers.
• Clean greenhouse glazing to let in as much light as possible
• Maintain good plant hygiene, picking off faded blooms and dead leaves before fungal diseases can take hold
• Open greenhouse doors and vents on warm days, or install automatic vent openers, to improve air circulation

House plants

• Start feeding houseplants once a week with liquid fertiliser, continuing through to autumn
• Water your house plants more regularly as the temperatures warm, check the soil before watering.
• Maximise the amount of light your house plants receive by moving to brighter spots, or choose house plants that will grow in shadier spots
• Some house plants, like snake plants, are particularly prone to collecting dust on their leaves. So be sure to give these a wipe regularly
• Try and keep house plants away from temperature fluctuations caused by draughts or central heating
• Check your house plants for pests like aphids, scale insects, thrips and mealybugs

Garden maintenance

• Put a bag of barley straw in ponds to discourage algae and keep the water clear all summer
• Lay turf or sow grass seed to create a new lawn or repair damaged patches
• Cut back tatty old fern fronds to make way for new ones that are starting to unfurl
• Keep cloches or large sheets of fleece handy to protect young plants if late frost is forecast
• Cut away unwanted suckers growing around the base of trees and shrubs
• Hoe between rows of veg seedlings regularly, as weeds grow rapidly at this time of year
• Remove moss and weeds in turf, and boost growth with a nitrogen-rich lawn feed
• Check that guttering on sheds and greenhouses is clear of debris, so that April showers will fill up water butts
• Add new aquatic plants to ponds and divide established plants that have outgrown their baskets
• Put pumps and fountains back into ponds, thoroughly cleaning the filters first
• Treat problem weeds, such as nettles and brambles
• Look out for clusters of aphids on shoot tips and young leaves, and wipe off before they multiply
• Keep putting out food for birds, as they’re busy raising their broods