Gardening Tips for April
Gardening Tips for April
What To Plant In April
With the clocks going forward and the evenings stretching out, April is the month where you really start to feel the pull of the garden again. That extra hour of daylight makes you want to get out there and get stuck in – and the good news is, there’s plenty to do.
Whether you’re prepping veg beds, freshening up your borders, or finally getting round to that lawn, a bit of effort now pays off massively over the summer months. Here’s what we’d focus on this month.
Plant Out Tomatoes and Peppers Under Cover
If you started tomatoes, peppers, or chillies on a windowsill earlier in the spring, now’s the time to move them into a greenhouse, polytunnel, or cold frame. They’re not ready for outdoors yet – we can still get cold nights well into May – but more space and light will give them a real boost. Haven’t started any yet? It’s not too late – pick up some young plants and get them potted on.
Get Your Lawn in Shape
Your lawn has probably been quietly growing while you weren’t looking. Give it its first proper mow of the year, but keep the blades high – you don’t want to scalp it. If it’s looking a bit tired after winter, a spring lawn feed will work wonders. Now is also a good time to reseed any bare patches while the soil is still damp enough for germination.
Get Seed Potatoes in the Ground
If you haven’t already, this month is the time. Potatoes are one of the most rewarding things to grow – easy, reliable, and there’s nothing quite like digging up your own in summer. Plant them about 15cm deep with the shoots facing up, and earth them up as the foliage grows.
Plant Up Hanging Baskets and Containers
April is brilliant for getting your hanging baskets and containers sorted for summer. Use the thriller, filler, spiller method – a tall focal point in the centre, colourful fillers around it, and trailing plants at the edges. If you’re not sure where to start, have a read of our guide to planting a spring container.
Mulch Your Borders
Once you’ve done your spring tidying, spread a good layer of bark or mulch over your borders. It locks in moisture, suppresses weeds, and gives everything a clean, finished look. Apply it while the soil is still damp and you’ll save yourself a lot of watering come summer.
Keep on Top of Watering
As things warm up, anything in pots or containers will start drying out faster than you’d think. Find a good watering schedule to check them every couple of days – try to water in the morning if you can, so your plants have moisture throughout the day.
Pop into Raglan Garden Centre for everything you need to make the most of April. Our plant team is always happy to help if you’re not sure where to start.
Don’t Forget
April is a great time to start feeding your plants – a general purpose liquid feed every couple of weeks will keep containers and borders looking their best as the growing season kicks in. If you’ve got climbers or tall perennials putting on new growth, tie them in now before they get out of hand. And keep an eye out for slugs and snails – they’re out in force this time of year, especially after rain.
Pop into Raglan Garden Centre – we’ve got everything you need to make the most of April in your garden, and our plant team is always happy to help if you’re not sure where to start.