JOBS AHEAD
April is a great time to give your lawn some attention by raking out thatch and moss, and forking over to improve drainage. Apply a lawn fertiliser and repair any bare patches.
Deadhead any daffodils and tulips once they have finished flowering to prevent bulbs putting energy into producing seeds, but leave foliage intact to ensure the bulb receives nourishment for next year.
Remember to tend to container plants at this time by watering well, especially if the weather is dry, and use a liquid feed to promote growth.
Stored dahlia tubers can be potted up to start them into growth. Once there is a good growth, take basal cuttings to make new plants.
If you already have established perennials in your borders, you can lift and divide them now to improve growth, and create new plants for free. Hardy geraniums and hostas will bulk up quickly after being divided.
Now is a good time to lightly prune hydrangeas to encourage new growth, along with other late-flowering shrubs such as honeysuckle.
If you have been planning on sowing hardy annuals this year, now would be a good time to sow marigolds, love-in-a-mist, cornflowers, poppies, and native wildflowers directly into prepared soil.
Deadhead any fading flowers to encourage a new flush of colour in summer.
Prepare beds for the coming growth season by spreading a layer of well-rotted manure or compost, at least 5cm deep.
April is the perfect month to start direct sowing a wide range of vegetables such as beetroot, radish, spring onions, leeks, carrot, broad beans, peas, spinach, and salad greens like rocket.
Potatoes chitted outside will be ready by early to mid-April to be planted outside.
Add a pop of colour to your veg bed by sowing some sunflower seeds into any gaps - just be sure to check the eventual height of any seeds you buy, dwarf varieties are available.
If you have not done so already, there is still time to plant strawberries in permanent beds.
Ensure young fruit trees are well watered as they will be growing rapidly at this time.
Secure netting around soft fruit crops to prevent birds from eating them.
You should now be seeing more growth in your greenhouse plants, so remember to give them plenty of space to avoid overcrowding.
Any plants that started growing earlier in the season, such as begonias, should now be big enough to be re-potted.
Plant out autumn sown sweet peas this month and tie them in to a support to get them going.
With temperatures beginning to climb at this time of year, consider using shade paint or blinds on the panels of the greenhouse to increase ventilation and avoid overheating.
Parsley, dill, and fennel can all be planted or sown outside.
Clumps of hardy herbs like chives and lemon balm can be lifted and divided to give more plants for free.