Gardening in April 

At last, spring is here! The ground is getting warmer, and the clouds are clearing to let in more of the sun’s rays. And while there’s still some risk of frost and plenty of rain, April sees the transformation of your garden from its winter slumber to its springtime splendour.

This blog is about the gardening task to complete in April so you can enjoy a beautiful garden for the rest of the year. 

Garden maintenance in April

No matter the shape or size of your garden, April is the month to dust off the tools and get gardening. From lawn care to renovating your flower beds and hedges, there’s a list of tasks to complete. 

Here’s your April gardening task list:

• Scarify your lawn
• Fertilise your lawn
• Mow your lawn
• Sow new lawn seed/overseed
• Plant flowers
• Plant veg and create a veg patch
• Prune shrubs and roses
• Remove winter protection

Lawn care in April

Your lawn awakens from its winter slumber and needs some attention. But a springtime lawn will only thrive throughout the rest of the year if you complete a few tasks early on. 

Scarify your lawn

After the winter, you’ll probably find that your lawn has developed a mossy layer of organic matter sitting on top of the soil. This thatch layer will stunt your lawn’s growth throughout the year, so it’s a good idea to get rid of it in April. 

Scarifying is the process of removing the moss and thatch using a scarifying rake or a scarifying machine. And while it’s no gardener’s favourite task of the year, the results are stunning (once you get over the catastrophe left in scarifying’s immediate wake!).

For the full low-down on scarifying like an expert, check out our full article. 

Fertilise your lawn

If you’re not going to scarify, you should still provide a good feed for your soil. MOOWY’s 2-in-1 moss killer and fertiliser provide ample nutrition while killing off the winter moss, which will help your lawn recover from winter when combined with overseeding.  

Lawn doctor Louis says:

“If only a little moss and weeds have accumulated after the winter, you can also use a hand-held rake to get rid of the unwanted thatch. But don’t forget to overseed!”

Mow your lawn

As soon as your lawn grows, it’s time to start regularly mowing. I mow my lawn weekly during the growing season, and my lawn repays me with abundant growth throughout the summer. 

The weekly cut releases growth hormones that give your lawn a burst of energy, which helps fight weeds and moss later in the year. And your lawn will recover more quickly from garden parties and ball games. 

Ensure the grass is dry before mowing, and always cut with a sharp cutting blade to avoid damage to your grass plants. I recommend mowing in the afternoon to prevent the midday sun from drying out the exposed grass tips, turning them yellow. 

Sow lawn seed

Grass plants don’t last forever — over time, they grow old and become less vibrant and robust. So, keep your lawn young and vigorous by overseeding in the spring. 

Overseeding is simply the process of laying new grass seed over your existing lawn, focusing specifically on bald patches that may have developed over the winter. 

Plant flowers

You’ll see flower bulbs emerging in April, bringing beautiful springtime colour to your awakening garden. But it’s not too late to add more colourful splashes to your garden for the summer. 

So, it’s time to sow flower seeds or buy plants from your local garden centre. If you’ve already germinated your flower seedlings, then it’s time to prick them out and plant them. 

These plants do particularly well in April: 

• common sage
• Plume
• Hyacinths
• Country carnation
• Alyssum
• Forget-Me-Not

April is also perfect for sowing the following seeds:

• Daisy
• Bluebell
• Country carnation
• Snapdragons
• Summer aster

Find out all you need to know about planting flower bulbs in our expert articles. 

Do you want to plant flowers? Then April is perfect for:

• golden poppy
• marigolds
• Rhododendrons
• gypsophila
• Sunflowers

Create a vegetable patch

April is the perfect time to start growing your fruit and veg. So, start gathering your seeds and get germinating. 

It’s always a good idea to buy new seeds, even if you have some left over from the year before (check the Use By date). Fresh seeds are more likely to have a higher germination rate. 

However, you can buy pre-germinated seeds, including: 

• Chinese cabbage
• Garlic
• Pumpkin
• Oregano
• Peppermint
• Chives

Or sow the following in April:

• Lettuce
• Broccoli
• Peas
• Carrots
• Potatoes
• Spring onions
• Lovage
• Chard
• Cabbage
• Parsely
• Broad bean
• Radish
• Beetroot
• Sage

Germinate these in a greenhouse or on the windowsill:

• Fennel
• Cucumber
• Kohlrabi
• Herbs
• Pumpkin
• Corn
• Melon
• Cauliflower
• Tomatoes
• Courgette

Wait until the risk of frost has passed before taking these seedlings off the windowsill for hardening outside:

• Broad beans
• Melon
• Tomato
• Courgette

Prune shrubs and roses

Roses, shrubs and small hedges are lovely decorative plants. But to maintain their desired shape, they need pruning. April is an excellent time for pruning as the plants experience the first burst of life after winter. 

They’ll recover faster from cuts and amputations at this time of year and will reward you with early flowers and foliage after pruning. 

Remove winter protection

If you protect your plants and containers with fleece, wraps, or covers for the winter, it’s time to remove them. 

Let your plants breathe again, experiencing the lovely springtime rays while giving them a fresh burst of life as they awaken from their winter hibernation. 

And if you have any questions about any of the content of this blog (or anything else garden-related), get in touch. We’ll reply as soon as possible.

Happy gardening, everyone!!!!