This exciting month is a mix of new growth and spring awakening, thanks to the showers in April and the ground warming, you will notice a lot of plants growing quite rapidly. Generally, there is a bit more sunshine this month but still the chance of wind and showers. 

If you grew a range of spring bulbs this year make sure to deadhead if they are starting to go over, cut the flowerhead off at the top of the stem to encourage new flower growth next year from within the bulb. Do not remove the foliage as the leaves are essential in the process of photosynthesis.

Ornamental Garden:

• Remove faded flowers on spring bulbs but not the foliage until it has withered. 
• Keep borders weed-free and Continue mulching.
• If the weather is mild, trim the weak or straggly growth of sage and rosemary.
• Prune Penstemons – cutback last year’s stems down to the new growth – if the weather is very cold delay until the end of the month. 
• Check evergreens for any frost damage – lightly prune if necessary. 
• Look out for early aphid attacks and treat if necessary. Pests will be active outdoors as the weather gets warmer.
• Sweet peas can be direct sown now to produce plants that flower later than those sown under glass. 
• Prune early flowering shrubs such as forsythia etc. 
• To ensure strong growth on roses apply a general fertiliser. 
• Plant evergreen trees and shrubs/move existing evergreens if necessary.
• Plant summer flowering bulbs, corms and tubers.
• Apply a combined lawn fertiliser to combat weeds and moss while giiving a boost of nutrients.
• Pot up hydrangea cuttings.

Vegetable Garden:

• Continue planting potatoes and finish planting onion sets by mid-April. 
• Direct sow vegetables such as beetroot, carrots, lettuce, radish, turnip, peas, spinach and parsnip. 
• Prune young stone fruit trees such as cherries and plums as leaf buds open.
• Sow tomatoes in preparation for planting outside in the summer.