Practical gardening advice for UK gardens
What to do this month

April gardening jobs

April is when the growing season gathers real momentum across much of the UK. Longer days, warmer soil and increasing light encourage rapid growth, although late frosts, cold nights and dry spells can still catch gardeners out. Northern, upland and exposed gardens may remain noticeably behind warmer southern and sheltered sites.

Sowing and planting now increases quickly, with many vegetables, herbs and hardy flowers suitable for direct sowing once soil conditions are right. Lawns, weeds and perennial growth also become more active. The main priorities are keeping new growth protected, staying ahead of weeds and watering newly planted crops when rainfall is limited without encouraging soft, weak growth.

UK conditions vary. Adjust timings for your local weather, soil and exposure.

Key gardening jobs

  • Repair bare lawn patches or sow new grass seed once the soil has warmed and conditions are moist but not waterlogged.
  • Tie in new shoots of climbing and rambling roses before they become tangled or damaged by wind.
  • Feed established roses and other hungry flowering shrubs as active growth increases.
  • Harden off hardy young plants gradually before moving them permanently from protected conditions outdoors.
  • Keep hoeing annual weeds while they are small and conditions are dry enough for uprooted seedlings to wither.
  • Increase watering of containers as temperatures rise, checking the compost before watering rather than following a fixed schedule.
  • Check ponds and remove excessive dead plant material while leaving some cover for aquatic wildlife.
  • Install supports around tall growing perennials before stems become large enough to flop or become damaged.

What to sow and plant

  • Sow beetroot, carrots, chard, lettuce, radish and turnips outdoors into prepared soil where conditions are suitable.
  • Sow peas and broad beans outdoors for crops that will follow earlier sowings.
  • Sow hardy annual flowers outdoors into prepared beds or designated wildflower areas.
  • Sow courgettes, pumpkins, marrows and winter squash indoors in individual pots with gentle warmth.
  • Sow runner beans and French beans under cover for planting outdoors after the risk of frost has passed.
  • Sow sweetcorn indoors in modules or individual pots to minimise root disturbance when planting out.
  • Plant second early and maincrop potatoes outdoors as soil conditions become suitable.
  • Plant pot grown fruit trees and bushes, watering thoroughly and maintaining moisture while they establish.

What to prune and harvest

  • Prune established fig trees by removing dead, damaged and poorly placed branches while keeping the framework open.
  • Prune winter damaged stems from evergreen shrubs once new growth makes the extent of damage clear.
  • Prune early flowering shrubs such as forsythia after flowering has finished to encourage productive new shoots.
  • Cut back penstemons once fresh growth is clearly developing at the base, removing the old stems above it.
  • Harvest rhubarb by pulling established stems cleanly from the crown rather than cutting them.
  • Harvest purple sprouting broccoli regularly to encourage further side shoots.
  • Harvest spring cabbages as heads become firm and before they begin running to flower.
  • Begin harvesting asparagus from established beds as spears reach usable size, leaving young beds unharvested while they establish.

Problems to watch

  • Protect fruit blossom and tender new shoots when late frost is forecast.
  • Watch seedlings and soft young growth for slug and snail damage, particularly after rain.
  • Check roses, fruit bushes and tender shoots for increasing aphid colonies.
  • Inspect lilies and fritillaries for scarlet lily beetles and remove adults, eggs and larvae when found.
  • Watch gooseberry and currant bushes for gooseberry sawfly larvae feeding rapidly on the leaves.
  • Check young brassicas and seedlings for flea beetle damage during warm, dry weather.
  • Monitor box plants for box tree moth caterpillars and remove infestations promptly where practical.
  • Check newly planted trees, shrubs and crops for drought stress during dry or windy spells and water before plants become severely wilted.
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