April Gardening Jobs

As the gradual warmth of April breathes life back into our UK gardens, the time has come to roll up our sleeves and dive into one of the busiest times of year for garden prep. From sowing seeds to tending to those newly emerging plants and preparing the soil, there’s plenty to keep you active so let’s take a closer look at those April gardening jobs…

Seed Sowing

April is a key month for sowing seeds and here are just some to consider for your own garden:

1. Hardy Annual Flowers: This is the perfect time to sow hardy annual flowers directly into the soil. These resilient beauties can withstand cooler temperatures and will reward you with vibrant blooms throughout the summer. Consider sowing seeds such as marigolds, calendula, cornflowers and love-in-a-mist. These colourful additions will not only brighten up your garden but will also attract those vital pollinators like bees and butterflies.
2. Vegetables: If you’re anything like me and are eager to kickstart your vegetable patch, April is a prime time to sow a variety of seeds both indoors and outdoors. Outdoors, you can sow seeds of hardy vegetables such as carrots, radishes, lettuce, spinach, peas, and broad beans directly into the soil. Indoors, you can start seeds of tender vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, courgettes and squash. This is also the time to get those first early seed potatoes either into a bed or in growing bags/containers.
3. Herbs: Now is the time to start growing culinary herbs such as basil, parsley, chives, dill, coriander and mint. Whether you have a dedicated herb garden or just a few pots on the windowsill, growing your own herbs is very simple.
4. Perennials: While many perennials can be propagated by division, some can also be grown from seed. You can sow the seeds of lupins, delphiniums, echinacea, rudbeckia and foxgloves. Although they may not bloom in their first year, these seeds will establish strong root systems, ensuring robust plants for years to come.
5. Wildflowers: These are a wonderful addition to any garden, brightening up empty spaces and attracting insects. Choose a good mix of native wildflowers such as poppies, cornflowers, oxeye daisies, meadow crane’s-bill and yarrow.

Other Gardening Jobs

1. Prepare the Soil: Clear away debris and weeds from your garden beds and borders. Loosen the soil with a fork or tiller to improve aeration and drainage. Add organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure to enrich the soil and provide essential nutrients for your plants.
2. Prune Shrubs and Trees: Early spring is the perfect time to prune shrubs and trees before they begin to put on new growth. Remove dead, diseased, or damaged branches to encourage healthy growth and improve the overall appearance of the plant.
3. Feed and Mulch: Give your plants a boost by feeding them with a balanced fertiliser to encourage strong, healthy growth. Apply a layer of organic mulch such as homemade compost around your plants to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.
4. Keep an Eye on Pests and Diseases: With the warmer weather comes the emergence of pests and diseases. Keep a close eye on your plants for any signs of pest infestation or disease, such as holes in leaves, discoloured foliage or unusual growth. Take action promptly to prevent the spread of pests and diseases and protect your plants.
5. Prepare for Lawn Care: Begin preparing your lawn for the growing season ahead. Rake away any dead grass or debris, aerate the lawn if necessary and overseed any bare patches. Apply a slow-release fertiliser to encourage healthy growth.
6. Clean and Tidy Up: The post-winter clean up can take weeks to tackle especially when it’s been particularly wet as it has been of late. Take some time to sweep, jet wash and repair your patio, decking, walled areas etc. Give your pots a good wash down, tidy up your greenhouse, fix any broken planters/raised beds and give pathways a spruce up.
7. Plan and Design: If you haven’t already done so, use this month as an opportunity to plan and design your garden for the season ahead. Consider the layout of your garden, taking into account factors such as sunlight, soil type and moisture levels. Sketch out a rough plan or create a mood board to help guide your planting decisions.

By tackling these essential April gardening jobs you’ll be well on your way to a successful growing season ahead. So roll up your sleeves, grab your tools and let the gardening adventure begin!

If you have missed the previous months you can read these here:

January Gardening Jobs

February Gardening Jobs

March Gardening Jobs

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