Gardening Tips for the Flower Garden in April

The days are getting longer, the weather hopefully getting warmer, a sense of optimism fills the garden. Here are a few tasks to think about for the month of April

Spring Flowering Bulbs

Dead-head or remove any fading flower-heads from primroses and pansies to encourage further flowers.

The foliage of daffodils and other spring flowers should be left intact but faded heads should be picked off. Do not be tempted to tie up the leaves of flowered daffodils to make them look tidy as was once the fashion, leave them to die down naturally so that all possible nutrients can feed the bulbs and help good flowering next Spring.

Keep a keen eye on the compost in pots of spring bulbs to ensure they stay moist, water well if it has dried out.

Clumps of spring-flowering bulbs benefit from a sprinkling of fertiliser. Bulbs naturally “clump up” and compete for any nutrients available in the soil. A bit of help will help them perform better for you next year.

Sweet Peas

Sweet Peas may be sown outside in their flowering position. Cover if you have problems with mice.

Gradually increase water and feeding as plants grow.

Encourage bushier plants by pinching out growing tips.

Dahlias

Dahlias can be planted out this month but for earlier flowers it is best to start them off in a greenhouse.

To have a good display of dahlias try growing them from seed. You will be rewarded with flowers the first year and have plenty of corms to store and replant next year. Much cheaper than buying mature corms and you know where they were harvested.

Lilies

Lilies can be grown-on in pots for filling any unexpected gaps you may find in the garden.

My preference is for scented lilies but many unscented varieties provide a great show of colour.

Not found what you are looking for?

Custom Search