Gardeners Calendar for April.

 

Following the cold spell last month the temperatures have warmed up and the spring bulbs have put in a welcome appearance. Early blossoming cherry trees are in full bloom and it looks as if the warmer weather is finally here.

Weeding is the top priority from now on. Regular hoeing and mulching should discourage weed seedlings in the borders. Try to do it before the weeds get too big. Established perennial weeds may need sterner treatment. You can treat the weed with a systemic herbicide, which may take several applications. If the area is large you can smother the weeds using black plastic sheeting, but this can take up to a year to work successfully. Digging out with a fork usually works and is the most immediate method. Remove as much of the roots as possible to prevent regrowth.

This is a good month to lay new turf. The key to a good lawn is preparation. The soil must be raked and trodden down so it is firm and level. Unroll the first row of turves along one end of the plot. Push the next roll close together so you can’t see the joins, then firm them down. Lay the next row against them. Always work from a plank laid on top of the previous row so you won’t leave footprints in the soil. If no rain is forecast the new lawn will need watering. It will take a few weeks to root down so avoid walking on it as much as possible until then.

For established lawns regular mowing is a must. After a wet winter moss can be a problem. It can be raked out now either by hand or machine depending on how big your lawn is. Weeds can be dealt with either by digging them out by hand if there are only a few, a general weed and feed treatment or by spot treating them with a lawn weed killer. A dressing with a lawn fertiliser later on this month will strengthen the grass. Either use a slow release feed that will work slowly all the season or a spring/summer feed that encourages lush green leaves more quickly.

Plants that have been raised under glass must be hardened off before being planted outside. If you have a cold frame move them into this, otherwise take them out of the green house on fine days and put them in a sheltered spot and then put them back in again at night. Also if you buy plants from a covered area in a nursery these also need hardening off before planting out.

New perennials should be planted out this month, this will give them plenty of time to grow and flower this summer. Dig a generous planting hole, add some compost and a general purpose fertiliser and work into the bottom of the hole. Firm the plant in gently and water well. If the plant will need supports, add these now. Use either canes or twiggy sticks. Tie the plants into these sticks as the plants grow.

Early potatoes can be started to ‘chit’ now. Put them in trays in full light and plant them as soon as they form growth buds. Dig over the ground where they will be planted, and fork in plenty of organic matter ready for your seed potatoes to go in. Courgettes, marrows and pumpkins as well as French and runner beans can be started in the greenhouse now. They should be ready to plant out around the end of May. Don't forget to check under trays for hidden slugs and snails waiting to eat your young seedlings. We had a mouse problem in our greenhouse- no bean or sweetcorn seed was safe! We purchased a sonic repeller just plug it in and so far it seems to work and its much better than traps- we will report back next month on its success.

Give clematis, roses and trees and shrubs, perennials and hedges a feed with a general purpose fertiliser. Don’t forget to also feed specimen trees and shrubs as well as your borders.

Prick out any seedlings and pot up any young plants in the greenhouse. Pinch out the tops of any newly potted cuttings to make them bushy. Hardy herbs can be planted out into a well-drained bed or container.

There is still time to move any evergreen shrubs or conifers to more suitable locations. Remember to water them well after replanting.

Hopefully the frosts are almost over. Plants with tender shoots such as acers will need protection if temperatures drop again. Regular deadheading of spring flowering bedding will help prolong the display.

It's a good time to finish planning the garden, and order any plants (online! )  Diy and garden centres are selling bedding plants now, but they should be kept in a heated greenhouse

Enjoy the spring!

a

Shrubs to plant now :-

                                                                           

  Lonicera fragrantissima     Chaenomelesx superba 'Crimson & Gold'     Aucuba japonica 'Crotonifolia'         Mahonia aquifolium  

   Clck on any of the pictures to go to the relevant catalogue page

   See you next month!

Judith