By Alicia Paaso - Gardenscape Sales Team/RHS Level 2 Horticulturalist
April is all about the anticipation of seed sowing and new growth. It is a wonderful month to spend time outside with the warmer weather and abundance of natural beauty. The trees are bursting with vibrant green leaves as more and more buds gradually unfurl. April brings a new wave of spring flowers as fading daffodils are replaced by gorgeous blooms such as tulips, camellias, and bluebells. All the garden jobs allow gardeners to finally get their hands back into the soil and fully engage in gardening!
The weather has been glorious, with sunny and warm days ideal for gardening. The warmer weather allows us to sow a huge variety of seeds. Carrot seeds can be sown in the ground or pots. They should be sown in soil deep enough for the roots not to be restricted, and free of large stones to avoid misshapen carrots. Herbs such as parsley and dill can be sown in containers placed in a sunny spot. Sunflower seeds can be sown directly into the ground from late April. As the name suggests, they thrive in a spot with plenty of sunlight. Poppy seed varieties and wildflower seed can be sown in April for pollinator attracting flowers. Sow the wildflower seed on finely raked low fertility soil for even germination. Low fertility soil will discourage excessive grass and weed growth which may outcompete the wildflowers.
Hostas are available in a huge number of varieties and make a great addition for any sized garden. They can be planted in April and do best in compost-rich soil and partial shade. Existing hostas can be divided by using a knife to cut them in half, leaving at least two healthy shoots on each division. Maincrop varieties of potatoes should be planted in April as they are usually larger than other varieties and therefore require a longer growing season. They grow best in nutrient-rich environments such as well-rotted manure.
Pests and weeds start emerging as we get further into spring. It is crucial to control them early before they cause damage or become difficult to control. Managing them early also prevents having to use herbicides or pesticides that can be harmful to the garden’s ecosystem. Mulching using compost or bark mulch will decrease weed germination by stopping sunlight from reaching the seeds.
Inspect your plants regularly for any signs of pest infestations, such as wilting leaves or damaged growth. Any that you spot can be picked off by hand or sprayed with water for non-chemical removal. Different plants will be susceptible to different kinds of pests, carrots are especially susceptible to carrot fly for example. It can help to control pests by using physical barriers such as fleece, or plant pest resistant varieties; like ‘Flyaway’ carrot hybrids.
Don’t forget to increase the watering of house plants and pots as the weather gets warmer. Now is a good time to re-pot any plants that are root-bound into larger pots as their grow rate increases. Compost decreases in nutrients over time, so replenishing it will aid the overall health of your plants, as well as help with moisture retention.
Happy planting!