APRIL

ESSENTIAL JOBS CHECKLIST FOR APRIL

Give your lawn a feed and treat moss and weeds if necessary
Plant new shrubs, perennials and rock plants.
Plant maincrop potatoes and onion sets
Sow vegetables, herbs and annual flowers
Divide and replant congested perennials
Train in new shoots of clematis
Start feeding indoor plants

TOPICAL TIPS FOR APRIL

Flower Garden

Sooner or later perennials will need dividing – ideally this should be done every three to five years. Once the plants starts to become woody or dies back at the centre it will benefit from being split up and replanted. Early April is a good time of year to tackle this. Dig up the plant and split ii up into several portions, making sure each has a good share of root. Discard the woody centre. Dig over and fertilise the area for replanting, using your favourite Westland soil conditioner and general plant food. Once planted, water in well and mulch.
Garden centres are bursting with colour at this time of year and it's easy to be tempted into buying new plants. Make sure they get off to a good start by preparing the soil well and using one of the planting mixtures.
The clematis you pruned last month will be putting on masses of growth now. Spend a but of time training it and tying it in otherwise you'll find it makes a congested mass. If you get training early you can spread the growing shoots widely over the chosen wall or fence and get a far better display of flowers. Be very careful with the new shoots as they are very brittle and easily broken.
The flowers of spring bulbs will be dying off now. Don't be tempted to cut the leaves and flowers down for at least six weeks after flowering as this will weaken the bulbs. By all means cut off the dead flower heads to stop those setting seed. Once you've done this give the clumps a generous feed with a Scotts Liquid Plant food. This will help the bulbs build up so that you get an even better display next spring
Annual seeds can be sown in the open garden now. If you sow them in rows you'll find it easier to thin them, and to tell them apart from weed seedlings. Don't sow them too thickly. It's a good idea to sow after there's been a good downpour as the moisture in the soil will help the seeds germinate quickly. Do water if it becomes very dry.

Going Green

If young carrot seedlings are immerging cover with a sheet of winter fleece, this will prevent the carrot fly from hatching on them and help prevent the use of chemicals later.
When preparing your pots and baskets for summer bedding fill using Westland peat free compost and farmyard manure, this will help feed plants naturally through the summer and retain moisture.

Lawn

Give your lawn the pick me up it needs to ensure a smooth green carpet. Choose the appropriate product and use according to the instructions all staff members will be willing to assist you with your individual requirements. Be careful not to use if the grass is wet or you could end up with scorched grass.

In the Greenhouse

Continue to sow summer bedding. Last month's sowings should be ready to prick out now.
Sow tomatoes in pots – if you don't have a greenhouse a warm windowsill is fine.
Continue to start summer-flowering plants such as fuchsias, pelargonium ’ s, begonias and dahlias into growth

Containers

Keep displays looking good by dead-heading and watering more frequently.
Its still a little early to plant summer bedding so don ’ t be tempted, there however a great range of other hardy plants available for planting now.
If spring flowering plants are still looking good give some liquid plant food to prolong their flowering.

Vegetable Garden

Plant second early potatoes at the beginning of the month and main crop varieties at the end of the month
Plant out onion sets in rows, making sure you leave enough space between them for hoeing out the weeds.
Continue to sow outdoors or under cloches – leeks, broad beans, beetroot, lettuce, parsnips, peas, mange-tout and spinach can all be treated in this way.
Brussels sprouts and summer cauliflower and cabbage is best sown into a seed bed before transplanting in May

Herb Garden

Basil is one of the more tricky herbs to grow from seed. It hates cold, damp conditions, so is best sown in a warm greenhouse or on a warm windowsill. Ideally the temperature shouldn't fall below 13 C (55 F). Sow very thinly and prick out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle. Keep them in a sunny but well-ventilated place
Start using fresh growth from young herbs; this will encourage new growth for the season ahead.

Fruit Garden

Apply a general plant food, either Westland Growmore or Fish, Blood and Bone, around fruit bushes, trees and strawberry plants
If frost is forecast spread fleece over flowering fruit trees and bushes to protect the blossom

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