Garden jobs for April

GARDEN JOBS

Here are some of the top jobs to be getting on with in the garden this month...

1. Sow hardy annuals, herbs and wild flower seed outdoors Sowing seeds outdoors is an easy, inexpensive and fun way to grow new plants. It’s ideal for a wide range of hardy flowers and vegetables.

This is your last chance to sow chillies

2. Tie in climbing & rambling roses Rose pruning ensures that plants grow vigorously and flower well each year. Although often considered complicated, rose pruning is not difficult if you follow the RHS guide.

3. Keep weeds under control Continue weeding as the soil warms up especially perennial weeds which will be starting to appear this month – if you get on top of them now, they’ll be easier to control for the rest of the year. Hoe regularly to prevent annual weed seedlings growing.

4. Start to feed citrus plants are quite hungry plants, so remove the top 5cm (2in) of old compost in late spring and replace with fresh to help kick stsart new growth.

5. Sow aubergines, chillis and tomatoes This is the last chance to sow aubergines, chillies and

You can sow hardy annuals like nigella direct into the soil this month tomatoes, which need a long growing season to do well. Sow them under cover. If you only want a few plants, you could wait until next month and buy plants at the garden centre.

6. Increase the water given to houseplants As they enter active growth, your housplants will need more water. Spring is also a good time to start feeding them; a liquid fertiliser can be applied once or twice a month, or a quarter strength can be applied at every watering during the growing season. 7. Feed hungry shrubs and roses Apply a general-purpose fertiliser at the rate recommended on the packet. Shrubs in containers need feeding from now until late summer.

8. Sow new lawns or repair bare patches Lawns are best repaired in spring or autumn, when the weather is damp and cool, as the lawn is most likely to recover well in these conditions. Clear away dead growth/ thatch and sprinkle new seed. Alternatively cut out the damaged area and replace with turf.

9. Protect fruit blossom from late frosts Most top fruit and soft fruit are very hardy but once they start into growth in spring, flowers and buds are especially vulnerable to frost and may need protection to crop well.

10. Leave caterpillars for birds. Avoid removing caterpillars from plants if you can – these are an essential food source for nesting birds such as blue tits and great tits, which feed caterpillars to their young. Also, don’t forget to keep bird feeders topped up this month.