April is the month that sees the most change in the garden, so there’s loads of gardening jobs to get stuck into.

In the beginning, spring has barely sprung, but by the end of the month your garden will be blooming into flower. Now the weather’s getting warmer and the first flowers are blooming, it’s a great time to get out in your garden!

This month is also the time to start laying in the groundwork for a bountiful harvest in summer. Here are the main April gardening jobs to get cracking on this month.

In short – prep your lawn, divide (and trim) and conquer, get your veg in and beware spring frost.

General Gardening Jobs

• Sow lawn seed:
  • Sow lawn seed or apply turf to repair any bare patches or add new lawn areas. Apply a high-nitrogen fertiliser for an additional boost
• Install lawn edging:
  • Border edging adds the perfect finishing touch to your garden design and reduces weed transfer, so take advantage of the softening ground and get some in
• Invest in a water butt:
  • If you haven’t already, invest in a water butt to make the most of the summer rainfall and provide your plants with chemical-free water

Plant Jobs

• Deadhead daffodils and tulips:
  • Cut off the head after it has finished flowering, however leave the leaves to die back naturally as they are needed to form a new bulb. The bulbs can be dug up and stored until autumn
• Divide hostas:
  • These plants can get very large and crowd out other plants, so it’s best to divide in April as they start to show vigorous growth. Dig up plants and segment with a sharp spade or saw
• Take pelargonium cuttings:
  • Cut the plants into shape and use the cuttings to make new ones. Strip off the lower leaves and place cuttings in pots of compost
• Move evergreen trees and shrubs:
  • Take the opportunity to make any changes while the soil is not frozen or waterlogged
• Tie in climbing and rambling roses:
  • When stems are long enough to reach the supports, tie with cable ties to train them
• Mulch perennials, trees, and shrubs:
  • Apply a layer of organic matter before the hot weather arrives. You can also feed with a slow-release fertiliser . Find out how to mulch with our guide
• Check tree ties:
  • Ensure they are not cutting into the trunk and loosen any that are too tight
• Remove dead foliage:
  • If you haven’t already, cut back any dead foliage on perennials or ornamental grasses to make room for new shoots
• Plant hardy annuals and flower seeds:
  • Plant hardy varieties that can be sown outdoors this month
• Take care of houseplants:
  • Now the weather is getting warmer make sure your houseplants are well watered
• Order summer bedding and hanging basket plants:
  • Now is your last chance to order these in time for summer, so make sure to check out our summer bedding plants and hanging baskets

Flowers to sow this month:

• cosmos
• poppies
• angelica gigas
• nicotiana
• lagurus
• monarda
• ipomoea lobata
• wildflower seed mixtures
• calendula

Produce Jobs

• Prepare seed beds:
  • Remove weeds and large stones, and dig in a layer of compost, green waste, or well-rotted manure
• Build raised beds:
  • Raised beds are a great solution to poor-quality soil and reduce the amount of bending needed. Now is a great time to build one, so check out our ready-made raised beds for a hassle-free option. Find out how to build a raised bed with our guide.
• Plant vegetable seeds:
  • Now the weather is warmer, there are plenty of vegetable seeds that can be sown this month, so get planting!
• Support pea plants:
  • Support growing pea plants by pushing sticks around them
• Harvest asparagus spears:
  • Harvest asparagus crops when the plants are no more than 18cm tall (7in)
• Mulch fruit trees:
  • Feed with garden compost or well-rotted manure, taking care not to mound too much around the trunk
• Protect fruit blossom from late frosts:
  • Cover trees with fleece on colder evenings

Crops to sow this month:

• sweet peppers
• spring onions
• chillies
• beetroot
• leeks
• lettuce
• radish
• spinach
• peas
• kale
• broad beans
• broccoli
• cabbages
• cauliflower
• carrots
• parsnips
• sweetcorn
• swiss chard

Greenhouse Jobs

• Scrub with hot soapy water:
  • This will get rid of pests and let in more light for your growing plants
• Grow flowers and vegetables:
  • Some half-hardy and tender varieties aren’t ready for the outdoors yet, so grow them in your greenhouse ready for planting out in the summer

What to grow in the greenhouse this month:

• sunflowers
• nasturtiums
• petunias
• scabiosas
• marigolds
• tomatoes
• aubergines
• basil
• perennial herbs
• french beans
• runner beans
• celery
• courgettes
• marrow
• squash
• pumpkins
• cucumbers
• lettuce
• strawberries

Jobs for Animals

• Sow wildflowers:
  • Sow seeds of cornfield annuals such as poppies and cornflowers to provide nectar for pollinators such as bees and butterflies
• Feed hedgehogs:
  • Now the hedgehogs are out of hibernation, leave out a bowl of cat or dog food to get them well-fed for the breeding season next month
• Provide a bee hotel:
  • Bee hotels provide a  habitat for solitary bees so make sure to get one in your garden to provide these useful pollinators with a safe shelter
• Welcome wild birds:
  • Keep birdbaths and bird feeders topped up to keep wild birds fed and watered

What April gardening jobs have you been doing? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram!

Lawn Photo by Daniel Watson on Unsplash
Asparagus Photo by Stephanie Studer on Unsplash
Photo by Bill Fairs on Unsplash