April is here and spring is in the air! As the garden starts to wake up after a long winter, it’s time to get outdoors and get ready for another great year of growing. In this guide, we’ll dive into our top 16 gardening tips for April, as well as the best plants for April gardening, helping you get your garden flourishing again this Spring.
Remember, we have everything you need for April gardening at Boma Garden Centre in Kentish Town, so come down to visit us and see what’s in store!
16 Best April Gardening Tips & Garden Jobs To Do in April
April is the perfect time to prepare your outdoor spaces for a thriving display season. Here are our top April gardening tips and gardening jobs to help you get the most out of your garden this month.
1: Clear weeds & mulch
Get your vegetable beds ready for another season of planting by clearing them of weeds and mulching with well-rotted farmyard manure or garden compost. This will improve drainage in wet weather and help soils retain moisture in droughts.
2: Fertilise shrubs and trees
Feed spring-flowering shrubs and newly planted fruit trees with a slow-release fertiliser or plant food. Roses in particular will appreciate a dose of fertiliser as they come back into new growth.
Top Rose & Shrub Feed is ideal for all types of roses and for any other flowering or foliage shrubs in the garden. Containing nitrogen, phosphate, as well as iron and magnesium, this fertiliser guards against nutrient deficiency and prevents premature leaf drop and discolouring.
3: Aerate and feed lawns
In April, you can aerate lawns and feed them with a high-nitrogen feed. You can also sow lawn seed to fix any bare patches. For lawn feed, we recommend the Miracle-Gro EverGreen Lawn Food, Weed & Moss Control. It kills weeds and moss effectively and feeds the lawn for greener grass. Plus, it is designed specifically for UK gardens to ensure a lush, green lawn free from weeds and moss.
4: Lift and divide grasses
Lift and divide ornamental grasses like miscanthus, as well as summer-flowering perennials such as daylilies and hostas. Dividing these plants not only rejuvenates them but also promotes better airflow and sunlight penetration, leading to healthier growth. It’s also an excellent opportunity to propagate new plants for other areas of your garden.
5: Support tall perennials
Put in supports for tall perennials that tend to flop, such as asters, delphiniums and sanguisorba. This is easier to do now while the plants are still small and there is space to move around them.
By installing supports like ties and twines or stem clips early, you help your perennials maintain an upright stance as they mature, reducing the risk of breakage and improving air circulation, which can ward off diseases.
6: Plant new perennials
Spring is traditionally a good time to plant new perennials and shrubs, allowing them to settle in before the heat of summer. If the spring weather is dry, remember to water new plantings regularly. Choosing the right location with suitable soil and sunlight conditions further enhances their long-term success.
7: Prune penstemons
Prune penstemons once the frosts have passed, cutting back to just above the lowest new shoots, or to growth at the base of the plant if there are no shoots on the old stems. This pruning method encourages denser growth and prolongs the flowering period.
8: Trim lavender
Give lavender a light trim, taking care not to cut back into old wood. Light trimming helps maintain a neat shape and stimulates a fresh burst of growth. Keeping the cutbacks minimal ensures that the plant retains its ability to bloom beautifully throughout the season.
9: Pinch seedling tips
If you’re growing fuchsias from cuttings or sweet peas from seed, pinch out the growing tips of the seedlings to give you bushy plants that will produce masses of flowers. This technique promotes lateral growth and helps prevent leggy, spindly stems. The result is a fuller plant that can support more blooms as it matures.
10: Deadhead your spring bulbs
Deadhead spring bulbs like daffodils and tulips once the flowers have faded, but leave the foliage to die back naturally. Don’t tie it up or plait it, as this stops the leaves making food to store in the bulbs for next year’s flowers.
11: Sow in the vegetable garden
April means you can now probably directly sow broad beans, carrots, beetroot and parsnips in the vegetable garden. To do this, you’ll need:
- A seasonal selection of vegetables
- Gardening essentials like compost, fertiliser and tools
- Plant care accessories like plant supports and protective netting
Alternatively, a Grow Your Own Veg Garden Set provides all this and more in one handy kit. It’s perfect for both beginners and experienced gardeners who want to enjoy the satisfaction of growing their own vegetables without the hassle of gathering all the equipment.
12: Sow tomato seeds
Sow tomato seeds this month in the greenhouse or on a sunny windowsill. April is also a good time to sow courgette and pumpkin seeds in small pots indoors. Starting these seeds indoors gives your plants a head start before the outdoor growing season begins. Make sure to provide a warm, well-lit spot to help the seedlings thrive before transplanting them outside.
13: Plant second-early potatoes
Plant second early and maincrop potatoes this month. Second-early potatoes will grow well in large containers, but maincrops are best in the ground. You can also plant onion and shallot sets this month, netting the beds to stop pigeons pulling up the young seedlings.
14: Sow hardy annuals
Direct sow hardy annuals like fuchsias, Nigella and poppies for great summer colour. You can also sow sweet pea seeds directly outdoors in April.
Hardy annuals add vibrant splashes of colour to your garden and thrive when sown early in the season. Their early establishment helps them withstand the summer heat and ensures a prolonged flowering period.
15: Harvest asparagus shoots
Harvest the first asparagus shoots – they’re delicious steamed and served with butter! Well-timed harvesting ensures that the spears remain tender and flavourful. Once harvested, be sure to leave some spears uncut to allow the plant to replenish its energy for future growth.
16: Support April wildlife
There are many ways to support wildlife in April, so don’t forget to keep wildlife in mind with your general gardening tasks. To support wildlife through your gardening this April, you can try:
- Bird feeders: Bird feeders are a great way to supplement bird food in your garden.
- Planting for pollinators: Pollinators are essential for the environment. Not only are bees pollinators but also beetles, lacewings, butterflies, ladybugs and many more.
- Wild garden: Leaving an area to grow wild in your garden will be hugely beneficial to wildlife. Try tall grasses, unexpected wildflowers, and even clover in your lawn. Moths and butterflies plus ladybugs, millipedes and beetles will all thank you for it.
- Ponds: Even if you don’t have a big space, wildlife ponds can support many species. A small pond can easily be made in a garden or allotment filled with oxygenating, marginal, and even water lily plants.
Digitalis Foxglove 'Apricot Beauty'
Best Plants For April Gardening
With our top tips at hand, you’ll be just about ready to lose yourself in the garden this month, but which varieties should you be planting? Here are our recommendations for the best plants for April:
- David Austin Roses showcase a refined collection of English roses known for their lush, fragrant blooms and classic charm, making them a standout feature in any spring garden.
- Herb seeds, flowering seeds and vegetable seeds sowed in April set the stage for a vibrant garden, offering everything from aromatic culinary herbs and colourful blooms to fresh, home-grown produce.
- Bedding plants like snapdragons (Antirrhinum), fuchsias, and geraniums, along with delicate sweet peas and vibrant salvias, bring a burst of colour and texture to April garden borders.
- Annuals such as pot marigolds (Calendula), cornflowers, and the airy cosmos, complemented by the climbing allure of morning glories and the whimsical nigella, add dynamic charm to your garden.
- Herb plants including chives, coriander, and fennel, paired with aromatic favourites like lavender, basil, oregano, and rosemary, provide both culinary delights and garden fragrance.
- Shrubs like azaleas, photinia, and rhododendrons, as well as euonymus, hydrangea, pittosporum, and viburnum, offer structural interest and seasonal beauty as they begin to leaf out.
- Soft fruits like blackcurrant, blueberry, and raspberry provide an early burst of natural sweetness, while vegetable plants such as onion, leek, beetroot, kale, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts add both visual appeal and essential nutrients to your spring garden.
- Ornamental grasses such as carex, festuca, and miscanthus, along with molinia, pennisetum, stipa, and uncinia, create movement and texture in garden designs throughout April.
- Climbers including clematis, jasmine, and perennial sweet peas, along with the dramatic trumpet vine and classic wisteria, enhance vertical spaces and garden structures with their flourishing blooms.
Embrace April Gardening With Boma Garden Centre
Ready to transform your garden this April? Visit Boma Garden Centre in Kentish Town, London for expert advice and quality gardening supplies.
With a wide selection of outdoor plants, indoor plants, pots and planters, gardening accessories and more, we have everything you need to support your gardening projects. Whether you're looking for exotic and vibrant flowering plants or just the essential tools, our range ensures your garden flourishes this season.
Shop now for delivery to all London M25 postcodes
Gardening Tips April Popular Questions
What should I be doing in the garden in April?
In April, focus on preparing your garden for the growing season by clearing weeds, mulching, and feeding your beds. This is also the ideal time to aerate lawns, plant perennials and shrubs, sow seeds indoors for vegetables like tomatoes, and get your soft fruit and vegetable plants established.
What is the best thing to plant in April?
The best choices in April include planting perennials, shrubs, hardy annuals, soft fruit and vegetable plants like early potatoes, as well as David Austin Roses for a touch of classic garden beauty.
What to sow outside in April in the UK?
In the UK during April, you can directly sow hardy vegetables like broad beans, carrots, beetroot, and parsnips in your vegetable garden. You can also sow your hardy annuals like nigella, poppies, and sweet peas to create a vibrant and productive garden throughout the season.
