What to sow and plant in April

Jobs for established plants in April

• Spring Feed
  Agapanthus (Headbourne Hybrids)

  Feed with a high-potash (tomato) feed every two weeks from April until the buds show colour.

• Apply Spring Mulch
  Apple (Bramley's Seedling)

  Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of the tree to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

• Blossom Pest & Disease Check
  Apple (Bramley's Seedling)

  Inspect for early signs of pests (e.g., aphids, caterpillars) or diseases (e.g., scab, canker) during flowering.

• Pest & Disease Check (Spring)
  Apple (Golden Delicious)

  Inspect leaves and branches for signs of pests or diseases. Address issues promptly.

• Spring Pest & Disease Check
  Apricot

  Inspect for early signs of pests (aphids, borers) or diseases (brown rot, powdery mildew). Treat as necessary.

• Start Monthly Feeds
  Bay Tree

  Start a monthly liquid feed for pot-grown bays until late summer.

• Ericaceous Feed
  Blueberry (Bluecrop)

  Feed with an ericaceous (acid-loving) fertiliser and top up the pine-bark mulch.

• Switch to Summer Feed
  Calamondin Orange

  Change to a summer citrus feed with every watering.

• Ericaceous Feed
  Camellia (japonica)

  After flowering, feed with an ericaceous fertiliser.

• Protect Blossom from Frost
  Cherry (Morello)

  Cover small or wall-trained trees with fleece on frosty nights while in flower.

• Spring Pest & Disease Check
  Cherry (Stella)

  Inspect the tree for early signs of pests (e.g., aphids, cherry fruit fly) or diseases (e.g., brown rot, canker).

• Protect Blossom from Frost
  Cherry (Sunburst)

  Cover small or wall-trained trees with fleece on frosty nights while in flower.

• Start Cutting
  Chives

  Fresh chive leaves are back — start cutting.

• Spring Mulch
  Christmas Box (Sarcococca)

  Mulch with leaf mould.

• Divide Big Clumps
  Chrysanthemum (Hardy Garden)

  Every 3–4 years, lift big clumps, split them into fist-sized pieces with a spade and replant the young outer parts.

• Tie In Young Shoots
  Clematis (Jackmanii)

  Tie the fast-growing new shoots to the support every week or two.

• Cut Back Old Foliage
  Comfrey (Bocking 14)

  If any old foliage remains from the previous year, cut it back to ground level to encourage fresh, new growth.

• Pull Off Dead Leaves
  Cordyline (Cabbage Palm)

  Pull away the old, brown lower leaves.

• Spring Mulching
  Crab Apple (Red Sentinel)

  Apply a fresh layer of organic mulch (e.g., wood chips, compost) around the base of the tree to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

• Spring Pest/Disease Check
  Crab Apple (Red Sentinel)

  Inspect new foliage and blossoms for early signs of pests (e.g., aphids) or diseases (e.g., scab).

• Spring Feed
  Cranberry (Pilgrim)

  Give a little ericaceous feed as new growth starts.

• Trim Runners
  Cranberry (Pilgrim)

  Trim long, wiry runners back to keep the mat dense.

• Let the Leaves Die Back
  Crocus (Large-Flowered Mixed)

  Leave the foliage for at least six weeks after flowering, until it yellows — don't knot or cut it. Then tidy it away.

• Deadhead and Feed
  Daffodil (Tête-à-Tête)

  Snap off faded flower heads (not the leaves) and give a high-potash feed to build up the bulb for next year.

• Spring Pest & Disease Check
  Damson (Merryweather)

  Inspect leaves, stems, and flowers for signs of pests (e.g., aphids, plum moth) or diseases (e.g., canker, leaf curl). Address issues promptly.

• Spring Mulch
  Daphne (odora Aureomarginata)

  Mulch with leaf mould. Daphnes dislike moving or pruning — just leave it be.

• Divide Big Clumps
  Daylily (Stella de Oro)

  Every 3–4 years, lift big clumps, split them into fist-sized pieces with a spade and replant the young outer parts.

• Spring Coppice
  Eucalyptus (Cider Gum)

  Coppice (cut to 30–60 cm) every spring to keep it small and full of round juvenile leaves for cutting.

• Top Up Mulch
  Fig (Brown Turkey)

  Refresh the layer of organic mulch around the tree.

• Prune
  Forsythia

  Straight after flowering, cut flowered stems back to strong young shoots and remove a few of the oldest at the base.

• Spring Prune
  Fuchsia (Hardy, Mrs Popple)

  When new shoots appear, cut last year's stems back to a pair of healthy buds near the base.

• Start Cutting
  Garlic Chives

  New leaves are up — start cutting.

• Cut Back Old Growth
  Gaura (Whirling Butterflies)

  Cut old stems back to the fresh base growth in spring (not autumn — it helps it survive winter).

• Start Them Off Again
  Gladiolus (Large-Flowered Mixed)

  Check stored tubers/corms, discard any soft ones and pot them up (or plant out once frosts are over).

• Spring Feed
  Globe Artichoke (Green Globe)

  Mulch with manure and give a general feed as growth starts.

• Check for Sawfly
  Gooseberry (Invicta)

  Look under the centre leaves for green caterpillars that can strip a bush in days; pick them off.

• Spring Pest & Disease Check
  Greengage (Cambridge Gage)

  Inspect for early signs of pests (e.g., aphids) or diseases (e.g., blossom wilt).

• Prune
  Hardy Hibiscus

  Lightly shorten last year's shoots to keep a good shape; it flowers on new growth.

• Light Trim
  Hebe (Great Orme)

  Trim lightly after the risk of frost to keep a good shape; remove any frost-damaged tips.

• Spring Mulch
  Hellebore (Lenten Rose)

  Spread a 5 cm mulch of compost around the plant, keeping it off the stems.

• Check for Vine Weevil
  Heuchera (Coral Bells)

  In pots, look for C-shaped white grubs in the compost if plants wilt; use a nematode drench.

• Train New Shoots
  Hops

  Choose 3–4 strong shoots per plant and twist them clockwise around strings or a trellis. Remove the rest.

• Guard Against Slugs
  Hosta (June)

  Protect the emerging shoots from slugs and snails before the leaves unfurl.

• Feed and Mulch
  Hosta (June)

  Give a general feed and mulch with compost.

• Let the Leaves Die Back
  Iris reticulata

  Leave the foliage for at least six weeks after flowering, until it yellows — don't knot or cut it. Then tidy it away.

• Protect New Leaves from Frost
  Japanese Maple

  Late frosts and cold wind scorch the young leaves. Cover with fleece on frosty nights.

• Light Trim
  Juniper (Blue Star)

  Only trim the tips lightly if needed — junipers do not regrow from bare wood.

• Protect New Shoots
  Kiwi (Issai)

  Late frosts scorch the young shoots — cover with fleece on frosty nights.

• Switch to Summer Feed
  Kumquat (Nagami)

  Change to a summer citrus feed with every watering.

• Light Spring Tidy
  Lavender (Hidcote)

  Trim off any frost-damaged tips. Never cut into bare brown wood — it rarely regrows.

• Switch to Summer Feed
  Lemon (Meyer)

  Change to a high-nitrogen summer citrus feed with every watering.

• Prune Hard
  Lemon Verbena

  As new leaves appear, cut stems back to 30 cm to keep it bushy. It is late to leaf out — don't give up on it.

• Switch to Summer Feed
  Limequat

  Change to a summer citrus feed with every watering.

• Spring Feed
  Lingonberry (Ida)

  Give a little ericaceous feed as new growth starts.

• New Fronds Unfurl
  Male Fern

  Watch the new croziers unroll — a lovely photo.

• Spring Feed (Young Plants)
  Mediterranean Cypress

  Give young trees a balanced feed if growth is poor, and mulch.

• Spring Pruning
  Nectarine (Lord Napier)

  Prune as the buds break, not in winter. Cut some fruited shoots back to a young replacement shoot.

• Cut Out Dead Leaves
  New Zealand Flax (Phormium)

  Cut dead or damaged leaves off at the base.

• Mulch Olive Tree
  Olive

  Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base to conserve moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds.

• Switch to Summer Feed
  Orange (Sweet, Pot-Grown)

  Change to a summer citrus feed with every watering.

• Spring Fertilizing
  Oregano

  Apply a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer or a liquid feed to established plants to support vigorous spring growth.

• Spring Pruning
  Peach (Peregrine)

  Prune as the buds break in spring, not in winter, to avoid canker and silver leaf. Peaches fruit on last year's shoots, so keep a supply of young wood.

• Spring Pest & Disease Check
  Peach (Peregrine)

  Regularly inspect for early signs of pests (aphids, scale) or diseases.

• Spring Pest & Disease Check
  Pear (Concorde)

  Inspect leaves and branches for signs of common pear pests (e.g., aphids, pear psylla) or diseases (e.g., pear scab, fire blight). Address issues promptly.

• Spring Pest & Disease Check
  Pear (Conference)

  Inspect for common pests like aphids, pear slug, and diseases such as scab or canker after bud break and during flowering.

• Spring Cut Back
  Penstemon (Garnet)

  Leave old stems on over winter to protect the crown, then cut back to just above the fresh shoots at the base in mid-spring.

• Add Support
  Peony (Sarah Bernhardt)

  Put a ring support over the plant before the heavy flowers open.

• Protect New Shoots
  Pieris (Forest Flame)

  Late frosts scorch the red shoots; cover with fleece on frosty nights.

• Light Clip
  Pittosporum (Tom Thumb)

  Lightly clip to shape in spring if needed.

• Spring Pest & Disease Check
  Plum (Victoria)

  Inspect for early signs of pests (aphids, plum sawfly) or diseases (canker, brown rot). Treat as necessary.

• Apply Spring Mulch
  Quince (Meech's Prolific)

  Refresh mulch layer around the base of the tree to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.

• Spring Pest/Disease Check
  Quince (Meech's Prolific)

  Inspect tree for early signs of pests (e.g., aphids, scale) or diseases (e.g., leaf spot, fire blight) as leaves emerge.

• Spring Tidy
  Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia)

  Untie and pull away dead leaves.

• Spring Hard Prune
  Russian Sage (Perovskia)

  Cut all stems back hard to 30 cm above the ground as new buds appear.

• Spring Prune
  Sage (Common)

  Cut back by about a third as new growth starts, to stop it getting woody and leggy.

• Feed and Mulch
  Sea Kale

  Scatter a general feed and mulch with compost or seaweed.

• Spring Feed
  Skimmia (Rubella)

  Feed with an ericaceous fertiliser.

• Check for Lily Beetles
  Snake's Head Fritillary

  Pick off bright red lily beetles from the leaves and flowers.

• Let the Leaves Die Back
  Snowdrop

  Leave the foliage for at least six weeks after flowering, until it yellows — don't knot or cut it. Then tidy it away.

• Spring Feed
  Tea Plant

  Feed with an ericaceous feed as new growth starts.

• Spring Tidy
  Thyme (Common)

  Snip off any dead tips; avoid cutting into old wood.

• Cut Back in Spring
  Verbena bonariensis

  Leave old stems over winter to protect the plant, then cut them down in spring as new growth starts.

• Prune
  Viburnum (farreri)

  After flowering, remove one or two of the oldest stems at the base.

• Cut Back Leggy Stems
  Vietnamese Coriander

  Cut straggly stems back by half to make it bushy (root the cuttings in water).

• Watch for Late Frost
  Walnut (Broadview)

  Young walnut shoots are frost-tender; on a small tree, cover with fleece on frosty nights.

• Deadhead and Feed
  Windflower (Anemone blanda)

  Snap off faded flower heads (not the leaves) and give a high-potash feed to build up the bulb for next year.

• Spring Trim
  Winter Savory

  Trim lightly to keep it compact; do not cut into old bare wood.

• Spring Feed
  Yew (English)

  Give young hedges a general feed and mulch.

Other months

What to sow in January, What to sow in February, What to sow in March, What to sow in May, What to sow in June, What to sow in July, What to sow in August, What to sow in September, What to sow in October, What to sow in November and What to sow in December.