April Garden Tips & Ideas

Climbers
Tie in the new shoots of climbers and rambling roses.  Try to train shoots as near to the horizontal as possible to encourage side-shoots to develop along the whole length of the stems rather than on the tips of the stems.

Bedding Plants
Now is a great time to buy your bedding plants as plugs.  In sheltered areas these can be planted out now and will grow happily without the protection of an unheated greenhouse.  Plug plants can also be bought to make up hanging baskets later in the month.

Grow Your Own
If you are lucky enough to have some space for growing fruit and vegetables in your garden, then there are loads of seeds that can be sown now.  However, if you do not have the space for growing your own vegetables, it is possible to make up hanging baskets with tumbling cherry tomatoes.  A planter can be used for cut and come again salad leaves.  Potted up herbs on the patio are a great addition for cooking but also for the aromas they emit.

Around the Garden
When it remains dry, keep an eye on seedlings and new plants and water them if they start getting dry. Protect plants from snugs and snails.  Lightly fork over soil and remove weeds.  Prune back plants taking up too much space or looking untidy.

Self-Sown Seeds
Look out for those self-sown seedlings around the garden when working the borders.  It is amazing how many plants seed themselves and whilst you may want to keep some, you may already have too many of others.  Seedlings that you want to keep can be transplanted to better position if required but make sure you water them when they are moved.

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