{"id":1627,"date":"2026-04-23T11:13:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T11:13:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aldburyvillage.org\/?page_id=1627"},"modified":"2026-05-06T18:17:58","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T17:17:58","slug":"april","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/aldburyvillage.org\/?page_id=1627","title":{"rendered":"April"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Annie’s April<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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There\u2019s lots to do in\u00a0April<\/span>, but don\u2019t let that stop you taking a moment to enjoy the many beautiful things emerging in the garden, from carpets of forget-me-nots and bluebells to the soaring splendour of blossoming trees like magnolias and flowering cherries. Early clematis are beautiful to see and daphnes beautiful to smell.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

So, April is a busy month full of promise but do watch out for late frosts.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Sweet pea seeds can now be sown outdoors or plant out your autumn sown plants once they have hardened off. Pinching out the tip of your sweet peas once they are 10cm tall encourages them to branch out. Dig a good, deep hole and fill the base with farmyard manure or good quality compost; they like rich soil.\u00a0 Tie to the support and water in well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Sow directly your hardy annuals e.g. marigolds, poppies. They will need thinning out in a few weeks\u2019 time; pot up spares for friends and the plant sale. Half-hardy annuals e.g. cosmos can be planted out at the end of the month in sheltered spots, but if frost is forecast be patient.<\/span><\/p>

If you have started seedlings indoors or in a greenhouse, harden them off by placing them outside during the day, but take them in again late afternoon. I do this for about a week.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Sow\u00a0perennials e.g. hollyhocks and delphiniums in individual pots or segregated trays, fill the seed tray with good compost and scatter a small amount of compost over the seeds. Gently water and leave in a light spot as they need warmth to germinate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

If you took cuttings of tender perennials in the autumn they will now be well rooted. Pot on into larger pots and prepare your borders with well-rotted manure before planting out in a sunny position in a couple of months.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Create new plants from last year\u2019s pelargoniums (tender geraniums). Take cuttings now and they\u2019ll be ready to be replanted in early June.<\/span><\/p>

Keep up with the deadheading of your spring bulbs and split up snowdrops before you forget where they are in the border. I also plant out potted bulbs that I may have received as gifts. Hyacinths like shady areas and look best in a group.<\/span><\/p>

I love dahlias. Now is the time to get them potted up. Gladiolus also need planting; both will be happy in pots as long as they are supported and protected from the wind. Lilies need to go straight into the ground. They need plenty of space and good drainage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Prune your winter stems now e.g. salix and cornus\u00a0 these need to be cut to just 5-10 cm above the previous year\u2019s growth, while forsythia, once it has finished flowering should be cut back to strong new leafy side shoots and take out a few of the oldest stems from the base.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

While we are talking pruning, if you did not prune your lavender last year now is a good time. Give the plant a short back and sides with secateurs to snip off old flower stems and shoot tips. Pruning into hard old wood prevents new growth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Tussock-forming grasses also love a shaping haircut in the spring.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I have learnt over the years how important it is to keep my secateurs clean; a drop of oil helps and prevents rust. That leads on to:<\/span><\/p>

General jobs<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>