Tasks in April

Flower garden

Stake perennials.
Apply general-purpose fertilizer to flower beds.
Regularly tie in twining climbers such as clematis.
Deadhead daffodil, tulip and other fading flowers.
Move/divide clumps of herbaceous perennials.
Hardy annuals can be sown directly into the ground.
Sow sweet peas directly into ground.
Sow half-hardy perennials in seed trays.
Plant autumn sown plants.
Plant out dormant dahlias.
Plant summer flowering bulbs.
Top up containers growing plants with fresh compost.
Watch out for damping off of seedlings.
Control of slugs and snails before they damage emerging plants (especially hostas).

Trees and shrubs

Apply balanced fertiliser and mulch trees and shrubs.
Apply specialised fertiliser to roses.
Chop out rose suckers and mulch plants
Move plants as soon as possible.
Prune non-flowering shrubs as soon as possible.
Layer climbers and shrubs.
Ensure climbers are tied in before leaves develop.
Start to spray to control aphids and blackspot.
Divide bamboos.

Lawns

Sow new lawns as weather warms.
Remove debris from trees etc.
Apply spring weed and feed and more specialised weedkillers as required.
Reseed bare areas.
Mow with blades set high.