What to do in the garden in April
April is the month to stake perennials, sow annuals and vegetables, harden off young plants and keep fleece handy for late frosts. Growth is racing away, tulips are coming into flower and the garden changes almost by the day. Here are the jobs that will keep everything on track.
Enjoy the tulips
This is the moment all that autumn planting pays off. My favourite tulips flower from late April into May: Tulipa 'Ballerina', a scented, lily-flowered orange; Tulipa 'Spring Green', ivory feathered with green; and Tulipa 'Queen of Night', a velvety maroon that reads almost black. Narcissus 'Pheasant's Eye' (Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus), another favourite, follows on with its delicate scent.
Deadhead tulips as the petals fall so the bulbs build up their strength, and let the leaves die back naturally. Take photographs of combinations you love, and note where more would look good. My November garden jobs cover planting tulips in autumn.
Stake perennials early
The secret to staking is to do it before plants need it. Push twiggy hazel or birch pea sticks around taller perennials such as delphiniums, peonies, asters and heleniums now, bending the tops over to form a light cage. The plants grow up through the support and hide it completely. Metal plant supports work in the same way.
Sow and plant
Sow hardy annuals such as cornflowers, nigella, calendula and ammi direct into warm, well-prepared soil, and carry on sowing salads, beetroot, carrots, peas and chard little and often for a steady supply. Under cover, sow cosmos, zinnias, French and runner beans, courgettes and squash, ready to plant out once frosts have passed.
It is a lovely month to plant new perennials, which settle in quickly with spring rain. Planting in generous groups gives a border rhythm and impact; my post on plant combinations with geum, salvia and nepeta has an easy trio to start with. Sweet peas raised over winter can be planted out at the base of supports this month.
Harden off and watch for frost
Young plants raised indoors need a week or two to adjust to outdoor life. Put them outside during the day and bring them in at night, or use a cold frame with the lid opened a little more each day. Late frosts are common in April, and in northern and higher gardens they can carry on well into May, so keep fleece to hand and check the forecast before planting out anything tender. Wait until after the last frost to put dahlias, cosmos and other half-hardy plants in the ground.
Prune and tidy
Once fresh growth is showing at the base, cut back the old stems of penstemons to just above the new shoots. Give lavender a light trim to keep it compact, cutting just into this year's soft growth and never into old bare wood. Tie in the new shoots of climbing roses and clematis as they grow.
Feed, weed and water
Give shrubs, roses and borders a sprinkle of general-purpose organic fertiliser and top up mulch where the soil is showing. Hoe weeds on dry days while they are small. Pots and containers dry out quickly on breezy spring days, so check them regularly and refresh the top few centimetres of compost in permanent pots.
Lawns
Mow regularly now, gradually lowering the blades. April is a good time to sow bare or thin patches: rake the soil to loosen it, scatter grass seed, rake it in lightly and keep it moist until it germinates. Consider leaving an area to grow a little longer for spring flowers and pollinators. Dandelions are a valuable early source of nectar for bees, with clover following on into summer.
April checklist
Deadhead tulips and daffodils and let the leaves die back.
Stake taller perennials with pea sticks or supports.
Sow hardy annuals and vegetables outdoors.
Sow half-hardy annuals, beans and squash under cover.
Plant new perennials and plant out sweet peas.
Harden off young plants and keep fleece ready for frost.
Cut back penstemons and lightly trim lavender.
Feed borders, hoe weeds and water pots.
Mow regularly and sow thin patches of lawn.
If you are catching up, my March garden jobs cover sowing, dividing and potting up dahlias, all of which can still be done in early April.
Quick answers
When should I stake perennials?
In April, before they need it. Put pea sticks or supports in place while plants are still low so they grow up through them and hide the support.
When is it safe to plant out tender plants in the UK?
After the last frost, which is often from mid-May in southern England and later in the north and in colder, higher gardens. Harden plants off for a week or two first.
Should I deadhead tulips?
Yes. Snap off the faded flower heads so the bulb puts its energy into next year, but leave the leaves to die back naturally.
