April is an exciting month in the garden. As the days and nights get warmer, plants burst into life. Daffodils and tulips are blooming, trees are coming into leaf and winter feels like it's finally behind us. It’s the perfect time to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in – and there's plenty to do!
Whether you're an experienced gardener or just starting out, you have plenty of opportunity to get your green fingers working this month. From sowing seeds to planting borders and tidying up your lawn, a little effort now will reward you with a vibrant, productive garden later in the season.
The end of April marks the final frost for many parts of the UK. If we have a mild start to the month, it can be tempting to plant seedlings out early. Sometimes, the risk pays off, but perhaps keep some plants back just in case a late frost hits. You can find the estimated last frost date for your area on PlantMaps. Don't forget to harden off your plants, and remember that tender plants, such as dahlias and tomatoes, need nighttime temperatures to be well above freezing before they'll be happy outdoors.
If you're wondering what flowers you can plant to brighten up your garden this month, there's plenty of inspiration in my April flowers blog post.
Flowers, shrubs & trees
The soil should be warming up this month, and established plants will be surging into growth. April can feel very different across the UK, so use this checklist as a guide, but take into consideration your local climate, particularly when hardening off plants. If you're feeling chilly outside, your seedlings will be too!
What to plant in April
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Sow hardy annuals like calendula, poppies, cornflowers, nigella and wildflower mixes outside, where you want them to grow. If the soil still feels cold, cover it with a cloche for a couple of weeks to help it warm up. You may also be able to direct sow nasturtiums, sunflowers, sweet peas and verbena towards the end of the month.
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Other half-hardy annuals are still best sown indoors, unless you live in a very mild part of the UK. These include cosmos, zinnias and marigolds.
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Towards the end of April, you can harden off and plant out sweet peas and other hardy annuals.
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You can plant summer-flowering bulbs like dahlias, gladioli and lilies in the ground this month, a few weeks before the last expected frost. Plant gladioli corms in succession for a longer display of flowers. Find out more about when and how to plant summer bulbs in our dedicated guide.
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Plant up patio containers and hanging baskets with spring bedding plants, such as senetti, violas, pansies and nasturtiums.
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As temperatures get warmer, you can start to harden off plants grown from last year's cuttings and plant out new herbaceous perennials.
Propagating and dividing
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The best time to divide hostas is as the new shoots start popping up. Lift overcrowded clumps and divide them with a sharp spade, making sure each division has shoots and roots. Replant and water well. You can divide other summer-flowering perennials like asters, daylilies, delphiniums and phlox.
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Divide crocosmia and dierama by digging underneath the corms to lift them, and then separating chains of corms.
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If you potted up your dahlias last month, you should see shoots emerging soon. Find out how to take cuttings from these to produce more plants in our guide to growing dahlias.
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You can also take basal stem cuttings from delphiniums, lupins and phlox.
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Spring is the best time to propagate evergreen and deciduous shrubs using the layering method (when you pin wounded branches under the soil and leave them to root).
Pruning and cutting back
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Lightly prune spring-flowering shrubs, such as forsythia and ribes, after they finish blooming.
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Deadhead daffodils and tulips once the flowers fade so the plants focus on storing energy in their bulbs for the following year.
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Deadhead pansies and primulas to encourage more flowers.
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Spring is a good time to give overwintered pelargoniums a hard prune to revitalise them for the growing season. You can use cuttings to grow new plants.
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Cut penstemon stems down to just above the new shoots, once they appear.
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If you didn't prune your lavender bushes last summer, you can give them a trim this month, when the weather warms up. Go lightly, cutting back no more than a third of the foliage.
General maintenance
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Put supports in place for tall plants now, to avoid disturbing the roots (and to save time when things get busy later in the year!).
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Train climbing plants like honeysuckle, jasmine, clematis and climbing/rambling roses by tying in new stems as they grow.
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Slugs and snails love munching on new shoots. Protect your hostas, lilies and other vulnerable plants using grit, copper wire, nematodes or slug traps.
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Start inspecting roses and other plants for aphids, and if necessary, remove them to prevent populations from getting out of control.
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Keep on top of weeds – it's easier to weed little and often rather than waiting until the plants take over.
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Mulch around your shrubs if you didn't get around to it last month. A thick layer of mulch can help lock in moisture and prevent the soil from drying out in summer.
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Greenhouse temperatures can fluctuate wildly at this time of year, especially on sunny days, and you may need to take steps to protect seedlings and young plants from sun scorch and chilly nighttime temperatures. Don't forget to ventilate your greenhouse on warm days.
Planning ahead
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April is when the availability of plants really explodes. We're getting in new lines on a weekly basis, so check our garden plants section regularly for inspiration.
Fruit and vegetables
It's been a wet start to the year, but the soil is beginning to dry out and warm up, which means you can start sowing seeds. Remember, there's still a risk of heavy frost, so sow in succession to avoid putting all your eggs seeds in one basket. Towards the end of the month, you can begin hardening off seedlings to prepare them for outdoor life, but keep an eye on the forecast for any late frosts.
What vegetables to plant in April
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Sow vegetable seeds, including root crops such as carrots, beetroot and parsnips, and spinach, lettuce, radishes, chard, peas and broad beans outdoors
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Sow tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins and sweetcorn indoors, to plant out after the last frosts.
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If you want to try growing melons, plant seeds in individual pots and put them somewhere warm to germinate (such as a heated propagator or an airing cupboard). Place the seedlings on a bright windowsill or in a warm greenhouse. Melon 'Emir' F1 is a cold-tolerant variety, bred to thrive in UK gardens.
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You can also give French beans and runner beans a head start by sowing them indoors this month. If you're short on space, you can direct sow them outdoors next month.
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Leeks take a long time to grow, so start them off now, either in the ground or in a seedbed outdoors.
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It's also a good idea to start summer and autumn brassicas this month, either outdoors or undercover depending on the weather.
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You can plant chitted second early and maincrop potatoes this month.
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You should be able to harden off and plant out pea and broad bean seedlings this month.
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April is the final month to plant onion sets and Jerusalem artichoke tubers.
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Lift and divide globe artichokes. Remove new sideshoots with roots from established plants and replant the offsets.
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You can also divide and replant herbs such as mint and marjoram.
Harvesting
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You can harvest your first asparagus of the year this month, along with spring greens and other brassicas, such as cauliflowers and sprouting broccoli.
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Non-forced rhubarb should be ready to harvest this month, unless you have new plants, in which case, restrain yourself until next year to let them establish.
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April is likely to be the last month to harvest leeks and winter kale.
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Continue picking winter lettuces and salad crops such as rocket.
Fruit bushes and trees
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Keep weeding around raspberry and blackberry canes to prevent weeds from becoming established and tangled with the roots.
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Continue to protect early-blossoming fruit trees from late frosts using horticultural fleece or hessian.
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Mulch around the base of shrubs to conserve moisture if you didn't do this last month.
General maintenance
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Earth up your first early potatoes to protect new growth from frost and prevent any light from reaching the tubers.
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Put in supports for peas and beans before planting or sowing seeds. If you have access to birch or hazel branches, you can use these to create teepees or other aesthetically pleasing structures, but bamboo canes or sturdy posts are just as effective.
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Use cloches to protect young plants from frost.
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Prick out young seedlings and pot on larger plants as they grow. If you live in a milder area, you can start hardening off plants this month, ready to plant outside once the risk of frost has passed.
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Remove covers from forced rhubarb to let the plant recover.
Lawns and hedges
April is an important month for lawn care, whether you're patching up an old lawn or creating a new one. As temperatures warm, grass springs into growth, and grass seed will be quick to germinate and grow. The notorious April showers can be helpful in keeping a new lawn well watered, though a sprinkler is admittedly more reliable.
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Mid-late April is a good time for sowing a new lawn. For the best results, wait until the soil is warm and not too wet, and pick a period of good weather. Read our guide on how to sow grass seed for more information.
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You can also use grass seed to patch up existing lawns.
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To make your garden more biodiverse and wildlife-friendly, mow your lawn less frequently and allow daisies and dandelions to flower. You could leave part or all of your lawn to grow long and mow a path through it or around the edge.
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For lush, thick grass, apply a spring fertiliser across the lawn.
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If you want to plant a new hedge now, you'll need to opt for potted plants. Smaller plants are more economical, but take longer to grow. Planting them now gives them a full growing season to establish. Browse our full range of hedging plants, from economical 9 cm pots to mature plants.
Other garden jobs for April
April is usually an enjoyable time to tackle general maintenance and prepare your outdoor space for the warmer months ahead. Take advantage of the long weekend over Easter for larger projects, such as laying a new patio, creating a pond for wildlife or building new raised beds.
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Install water butts and check that gutters are clear, so you can fill them up before the dry summer weather arrives.
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Turn your compost heaps to aerate the mix and speed up decomposition.
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Catch up on any painting or repair jobs you didn't get round to over the winter.
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Clean the filters on pond pumps and water features and remove pond heaters as the weather warms up.
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Tidy up plants in and on the margins of ponds, including dividing overcrowded plants and planting new aquatic plants to fill gaps.
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Keep feeding the birds to support them through the nesting season, but switch to high-protein foods such as mealworms and sunflower hearts over fat balls. Peanuts can be a choking hazard for young chicks.
FAQ
What vegetables can I plant now?
Once the soil warms up in April, you can sow beetroot, carrots, radishes, spinach, lettuce, chard and leeks outside. Peas and broad beans can be sown a little earlier, but may need protection from late frosts. You can also plant tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, squashes, beans and sweetcorn indoors this month, to plant out at the end of spring or the beginning of summer.
What flowers can I plant now in the UK?
April is a good month for planting in milder parts of the UK, though in colder areas, you may want to hold off until May. You can plant herbaceous perennials, summer-flowering bulbs like dahlias, lilies and gladioli, and spring bedding plants, such as violas, senetti, primroses and polyanthus. You can also sow hardy annuals, such as nigella, cornflowers, poppies and pot marigold outdoors. Towards the end of the month, you can harden off and plant out sweet peas.
What plants grow in April?
April is when the garden springs to life. It's the perfect time to plant herbaceous perennials, container-grown shrubs and summer bulbs. The plants may look small now, but they'll shoot up over the next couple of months as new growth emerges. In the vegetable garden, you can sow carrots, beetroot, peas, broad beans and salad crops like spinach, radishes and lettuce.
What bulbs can I plant in April for summer?
You can plant dahlia tubers, gladioli corms and lily bulbs in April for summer flowers. Read our guide on how and when to plant summer bulbs for more information.
