April 2007 - The garden comes to life

April 2007 - The garden comes to life

by Bob Johnson

April - already and things are really growing now, the weather is warming up again.
gardencentreonline.com monthly gardening article by professional gardener, Bob Johnson. Gardening in the Cotswolds for the rich and famous for the last 15 years.

Lawns If you want to get rid of any moss or weeds from your lawn, it’s a good time to apply a weed and feed that includes a moss killer. You do have to make sure that rain is forcast in a day or two if using a dry feed . If you want to repair any areas of lawn you will have to either avoid these areas or you will not be able to make your repairs for six months.

Greenhouse Your Geraniums and Fuchias should be growing now so start to give them a feed once a week to give them a good boost. If you like Dahalias you can either start them of in the greenhouse in boxes or deep trays covering them with compost and watering, or plant them directly into the ground at the end of the month. The green house ones can be planted out after hardening off about mid May. Plant any summer bedding seeds you want to grow , also pepper and cucumber seeds can be sown. Keep an eye on the heat and ventilate if needed.

Vegetable Garden Now is the time to start sowing your carrots, summer cababages, cauliflower, celery (yuk).You can also start sowing your salad crop - any variety of lettuce - cos, little gem etc - be adventurous!Plant out your onion sets and your second early potatoes, then your main crop potatoes in mid April. You can also sow the next lot of Broad Beans. Brocolli and Beetroot can be sown mid-April.
Borders Start putting plant supports around tall growing perennials like Delphiniums and

Paeonies - you can use canes or purposely manufactured metal plant supports.If you didn't get a chance last month to get new plants in, don't worry because there is still time to get them in this month - always paying attention to the information on the plant labels as to the suitability of the plant to your soil type plus the best position for them - shady, direct sunlight etc.Also hoe between plants to control weeds.Deadhead any daffodils once they have finished flowering

Pruning Lightly prune shrubs which have finished flowering.On old Forsythia bushes cut back after flowering to within 2 buds of old growth or if it is a young Forsythia just reduce the shoots to promote a bushy plant.Finish pruning roses and feed with rose fertiliser which should be hoe'd in to the soil surfaceClip summer-flowering heathers at the point, just below last seasons flower - this will promote a nice bushy heather as the new side shoots will make the plant thicker.

Birds If you are fortunate to have larger trees in your garden give some thought to putting up a bird nesting box, whilst still maintaining the feeding regime started in March.