April is a wonderful month in the garden—longer days, warmer temperatures, and an explosion of new growth. It’s also a busy time for gardeners, with plenty of important jobs to tackle to set the scene for a beautiful summer ahead.
Here’s your essential April garden checklist to help you stay on top of things and make the most of the growing season!
1. Get Lawns Spring-Ready
✅ Mow regularly – Grass is actively growing now. Mow weekly, but keep blades high early in the month to avoid stressing the grass.
✅ Feed your lawn – Apply a high-nitrogen spring lawn feed to promote lush green growth.
✅ Tackle moss and weeds – Scarify if needed and apply selective lawn weedkillers.
✅ Overseed bare patches – Fill in gaps with grass seed to create a thicker, healthier lawn.
🌿 Tip: Rake out any thatch or moss before feeding and overseeding for better results!
2. Plant Flowers for Summer Colour
✅ Sow hardy annuals like cornflowers, poppies, marigolds, and calendula directly into beds.
✅ Plant summer bulbs such as dahlias, gladioli, and lilies.
✅ Pot up containers and hanging baskets for an early display—keep an eye on frost forecasts!
✅ Plant perennials like salvia, delphiniums, and lupins for long-lasting summer colour.
🌿 Tip: Mixing annuals and perennials gives your garden colour throughout the whole season.
3. Get the Vegetable Plot Growing
✅ Sow directly outdoors – carrots, beetroot, radish, lettuce, spinach, peas, and broad beans.
✅ Plant seed potatoes if you haven’t already.
✅ Start tender crops indoors – tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers, pumpkins, and runner beans.
✅ Protect seedlings from late frosts with fleece or cloches.
🌿 Tip: Succession sow little and often (every couple of weeks) for a continuous harvest.
4. Prune, Tidy and Train Plants
✅ Finish pruning roses if you didn’t get to them in March—cut back to an outward-facing bud.
✅ Deadhead early bulbs like daffodils and tulips once flowers fade, but leave the foliage to die back naturally.
✅ Train and tie in climbers like clematis and honeysuckle as new growth shoots up.
✅ Trim hedges lightly if needed—but always check carefully for nesting birds first.
🌿 Tip: A little time spent tying in climbers now will keep them looking neat and save problems later!
5. Watch Out for Pests and Weeds
✅ Hoe beds weekly to keep weeds under control while they’re small.
✅ Look out for slugs and snails, especially around tender new shoots—use wildlife-friendly controls where possible.
✅ Inspect roses and fruit trees for aphids and treat early to prevent big infestations.
✅ Keep an eye out for vine weevils in pots—look for notched leaves.
🌿 Tip: Encouraging natural predators like ladybirds, birds, and frogs can help keep pest problems down naturally.
6. Care for Garden Wildlife
✅ Keep bird feeders topped up—parent birds are feeding chicks soon!
✅ Provide fresh water for birds and pollinators.
✅ Leave wild corners or patches of long grass to shelter insects and small mammals.
✅ Plant wildlife-friendly flowers like forget-me-nots, wallflowers, and honesty for early pollinators.
🌿 Tip: Even a small shallow dish of water can make a big difference to thirsty bees and birds!
7. Check and Prepare Garden Structures
✅ Repair and paint fences, sheds, and trellises while the weather is dry.
✅ Clean patios, decking, and garden furniture ready for summer gatherings—jet washing gives brilliant results!
✅ Top up gravel paths and mulch beds for a neat, finished look.
🌿 Tip: Tackling these jobs now means you’ll be able to enjoy your garden later without scrambling to do repairs in the heat.
8. Plan for Summer Entertaining
✅ Create seating areas – Check your garden furniture and replace or refresh as needed.
✅ Plant herbs like basil, mint, and rosemary near the kitchen or BBQ area for easy picking.
✅ Light up your garden – solar lights are great for patios and borders.
🌿 Tip: A few strategically placed pots of scented flowers like lavender or jasmine will make summer evenings magical!
April Gardening Summary
| Tasks | Focus |
|---|---|
| Lawn care | Mowing, feeding, moss removal |
| Flower planting | Annuals, bulbs, containers |
| Vegetable sowing | Direct sowing, indoor starts |
| Pruning & training | Roses, climbers, early bulbs |
| Pest and weed control | Early management essential |
| Wildlife support | Feed birds, plant for pollinators |
| Garden structure maintenance | Sheds, fences, patios |
| Summer garden planning | Seating, lighting, herbs |
Need Help Getting Your Garden Spring-Ready?
At Project Garden, we offer professional lawn care, hedge trimming, planting, jet washing, and seasonal maintenance services—perfect for bringing your garden back to life after winter!
📞 Call 07795 800 772
📧 Email info@projectgarden.co.uk
🌿 Let’s make your garden the best it’s ever looked this spring!