Print this page using your browser menu option, then click here to return

April

March certainly came in like a lion and I’m hoping it will go out like a lamb and then for plenty of warm April sunshine and showers. There is still time to plant out the later summer flowering bulbs as well as continue to plant out new perennials or divide older ones to improve flowering. At some point when the soil is nice and moist mulch your borders with bark or wood chippings, good garden compost, well rotted manure or whatever else you have to hand. If you can get spent mushroom compost remember that this is alkaline so don’t use it on areas where rhododendrons and other acid loving plants are grown. Spread any mulch as deeply as possible, at least 2-3” to help conserve moisture during the summer as well as suppress weeds.

Early in the month, if you can protect from any frosts, then sow half hardy annuals such as Nicotiana (tobacco plant), Cleome or Morning Glory. Also sow larger hardy annuals in cells for planting out later in the month, sunflowers for example. Later in the month start hardening off tender plants such as geraniums that have over wintered in a porch or greenhouse. Towards the end of the month plant up hanging baskets, if you have a greenhouse or light porch to keep them in for a few weeks until they can go outside towards the end of May.

Permanently planted pots and tubs benefit from topping up with fresh compost. Old compost can be removed and replaced with new to a depth of 2”, 5cm, if there is not much room for topping up.

More on summer flowering bulbs, corns and tubers as these can make a real impact in the border and in most cases can be left in the ground and will flower again. At this time of year a good choice of lilies, gladioli and dahlias can be found in garden centres. Plant deeply, a good rule of thumb is to make the hole 3 times the depth of the bulb, in a sunny place, working in some grit and garden compost to aid overall drainage unless your soil is already free draining. Lilies are normally fully hardy while dahlias and gladioli can be lifted in the autumn or if they are given a really good thick mulch in late autumn they will normally over-winter successfully. Lilies also do very well in pots.

CAF