Gardening check list in April

April is a great time to get outside and start working in your garden in the UK. The weather is starting to warm up and the days are getting longer, which means there are plenty of tasks you can undertake to prepare your garden for the summer months. In this blog post, we will outline some of the top things you can do in your garden in April to ensure it's ready for the growing season ahead.

• Spring Clean Your Garden

The first task to tackle in April is to give your garden a good spring clean. This means clearing away any debris or dead leaves that may have accumulated over the winter months. Rake up any fallen leaves, tidy up your borders, and remove any weeds that have sprouted up. This will give your garden a fresh start for the season ahead.

• Prepare Your Soil

April is also a great time to prepare your soil for planting. If you haven't already done so, now is the time to add some organic matter to your soil. This can be in the form of compost, well-rotted manure or leaf mould. Dig it into the topsoil to a depth of about 30cm to improve the soil structure and add nutrients for your plants.

• Plant New Shrubs and Perennials

April is the perfect time to start planting new shrubs and perennials in your garden. The soil is starting to warm up and plants will have plenty of time to establish themselves before the heat of summer sets in. Choose plants that are suited to your soil type and the amount of sunlight your garden receives. You can also start to plant your summer bedding plants such as petunias, marigolds, and begonias towards the end of April.

• Start Sowing Seeds

April is a great time to start sowing seeds for your summer vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. You can also start sowing seeds for your summer annuals such as sunflowers, zinnias, and cosmos. Make sure to follow the instructions on the seed packets carefully and sow them in a greenhouse or on a sunny windowsill to give them the best chance of germinating.

• Prune Shrubs and Trees

April is a good time to prune any shrubs or trees that have become overgrown or are in need of some attention. This will encourage new growth and keep your plants looking healthy. You should also remove any dead, damaged, or diseased wood. Be careful not to prune any spring flowering shrubs as this will remove the flower buds and you won't get any blooms this year.

• Look After Your Lawn

Now that the weather is starting to warm up, your lawn will need some attention too. You should start to mow your lawn regularly, but make sure not to cut it too short as this can damage the grass should we have frost. You can also give your lawn a spring feed to help it green up after the winter months or treat it with Iron to kill all the moss off , then scarify it , removing all the old moss and thatch.

In conclusion, April is a great time to get out in the garden and start preparing it for the summer months ahead. With a little bit of work, you can have a beautiful and productive garden that will bring you joy throughout the summer.

So, grab your tools and get to work!