JOBS AHEAD
April is a great time to give your lawn some attention. Rake out thatch and moss from your lawn and then fork over to improve drainage. Apply a lawn fertiliser and repair any bare patches.
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.
Now is a good time to lightly prune hydrangeas back to new buds to encourage new growth, along with other late-flowering shrubs such as honeysuckle.
Clumps of herbaceous perennials like hardy geranium and hostas can be lifted and divided to make more plants for free.
Remove old fern fronds to make way for new ones that are starting to unfurl.
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.
Potatoes chitted inside will be ready by early to mid-April to be planted outside.
As the soil is warming up, April is a good time 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.
Mix things up this year and 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. Plant into soil enriched with well-rotted manure.
Mulch around fruit trees with well-rotted manure and check any tree ties are secure. 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.
Clean greenhouse glass to let in as much light as possible.
You should now be seeing more growth in your greenhouse plants, so remember to give them plenty of space to avoid overcrowding.
Open greenhouse doors and windows on warm days for ventilation but close them again by midday to retain heat for nighttime.
Plant out autumn-sown sweet peas this month and tie them in to a support to get them going. If you did not sow any in autumn, direct sow this month where they are to flower.
Clumps of hardy herbs like chives and lemon balm can be lifted and divided to give more plants for free.
Parsley, dill, and fennel can all be planted or sown outside.