Garden Tips - April

Flowers

Spray new foliage of Roses now with one of the very good specialist rose sprays available at any garden centre. This will protect against Mildew and Blackspot. Sprays should be repeated every 10 – 14 days from now until the end of July if possible. It is also a good idea to alternate sprays with different products to reduce the chemical resistance. Plant summer flowering bulbs such as Gladioli, Eucomis, Lilies, etc now for colour later in the year. 

Hardy Annuals can now be safely sown direct into carefully prepared positions in the garden where they are to flower.It is a good time to prune the stems of Penstemon back to about 6 inches (15cms) to create a less straggly plant and with many more flower stems. At this time of year if you have a greenhouse it will be bursting at the seams with all the new plants being brought on for planting out later. Prick out young seedlings before they get too large and keep the greenhouse ventilated as much as possible to lessen the chances of fungus diseases taking hold. 

Now is also a good time to undertake any major pruning work on evergreens such as Photinia, Griselinia and Prunus Lusitanica as they will readily make new growth at the time of year.

Vegetables

Continue to sow seeds of Chard, Coriander, Parsley, Beetroot, Carrots in modules in a cold greenhouse for planting out later. 

Brassicas can be sown direct into seed beds for planting out in June. Weeds are now beginning to germinate freely so keep the hoe moving at every opportunity when conditions allow. 

Houseplants

Start a regular feeding programme now for all your houseplants after their rest through the winter and early spring. Also complete the repotting or top dressing of your plants as soon as possible. Always use the same type of compost the plant is growing in to repot or top dress. Soil based compost – keep to the John Innes range, suggest No. 2 or No. 3 but if soil-less compost was used originally keep to one of the same type. Never try to change from one to another.

Find helpful tips and advice submitted by members of the society on the monthly pages. 

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