April 2023

GARDENING NOTES - APRIL

SHRUBS

Now that Forsythias have finished flowering is the very best time to prune them by

cutting back all the flowered stems to a strong shoot or developing bud further down the

stem. It is also a good idea at this time to remove two or three of the oldest stems altogether

this will encourage new growth from the base. Other Spring flowering shrubs such as Ribes,

Deutzia and Philadelphus can also be treated in the same way as they finish flowering. Now

is also a very good time for any major pruning you may wish to do on evergreen shrubs, all

the ones mention below will readily produce new growth if done at this time. This may not

always be the case if you miss this time schedule and do it later on.Camellias, Hollies (Ilex),

Euonymus, Prunus Laurocerasus (Laurel) and Prunus Lusitanica (Portuguese Laurel). If you

did not tidy up your Lavender in the early Autumn, do it now, without delay, but do not cut

too low as you will remove much of the young growth which will flower later in the year.

Pot Plants :

If your pot plants are in need of repotting this month is an idea time for it to be

done. Just choose a pot one or two sizes larger than the one it is in and repot using a good

quality potting compost. If the plant is currently in a soil based compost, repot using a JI

Potting Compost; if it is in a no soil based compost, use one of these types for potting on.

Never swop composts when potting on as this will almost always result in failure.

Flowers Continue to sow hardy annuals direct into their flowering positions into carefully

prepared soil which has been finely raked and all weeds removed. Sow in shallow drills, this

will make it easier to thin out at a later stage and also to see the seedlings from the inevitable seedling weeds which will germinate at the same time.

Half hardy annuals should be sown in small pots or pans in a protected environment for at

least another month or so.

Any seedlings which were sown earlier and pricked out and have now grown on can be

introduced to cooler conditions by placing in a cold frame to harden off.

Vegetables:

 Continue to sow salad vegetable varieties for succession. Keep young Tomato

plants in good light to avoid stretching (becoming leggy). Towards the end of the month sow

tender vegetables such as French and Runner Beans, Courgettes, Pumpkins and Squashes

under glass for planting out at the end of May or early June.

Questions of the Month

“What should I do with my Daffodils? They have not flowered again this Spring. They are

growing in clumps amongst my shrubs in a sheltered spot with sun for at least half of day.”

Firstly, have the bulbs been in their current position for a number of years. If yes, it could be

as simple as lifting the clumps when the foliage has died down, usually mid-June to early

July, separate the bulbs and replant in smaller groups say 5 to 7 bulbs, each spaced about 4 in

(10cms) apart. Between now and lifting, it would be a good idea to feed the clumps with a

high potash feed, something like Tomorite Tomato feed every 10 to 14 days until the leaves

have yellowed. Doing this may well bring the clumps back to flower but you have to be

patient as there will not likely be any marked effect until the Spring of the second year.

Secondly are the leaves smaller than normal, stunted or have any yellowish variation in them.

If so then this is a virus and no cure is possible, so the clumps should be dug up and disposed

of.