What we do in the garden in April - tips for gardeners
Garden and house plants require constant care from us, because it is a period of intensive vegetation for them. April is the right time for cutting, fertilizing and propagating. We are starting the gardening season for good and even the whims of the weather will not be able to chase away plant lovers.
April tasks in the garden
March is still a cold month, so removing the covers from the plants and spreading the protective mounds should be left until April. In our gardens, there may be plants that are extremely sensitive to low temperatures. In this case, the best solution will be to reveal them only at the end of the month. We also expose the rose bushes and make the necessary pruning. We get rid of dried, broken shoots and branches that could harm proper growth.
SEE: Pruners and gardening shears
The time is coming when we can finally start sowing flower seeds to a permanent place. It is mainly about resistant annual plants, i.e. marigolds or marigolds. Dahlia and canna tubers can be put in pots and placed in a sunny, warm place, which will make them bloom much earlier. Planting these flowers into the ground is to take place in May, when it gets quite warm and the weather will not play tricks.
At the end of the month, when the soil is more friendly, seedlings of annual plants, e.g. begonias, can be planted in the ground. We also plant forget-me-nots and pansies in permanent places. Newly purchased rose bushes can also be planted in the soil, but they must have at least 3 healthy shoots and developed roots. When perennial rose bushes are waiting for us in the garden, we must prune them. Early spring is the time to replant previously sown perennials blooming in summer and autumn.
Re-fertilization of bulbous plants should be carried out in April. It should take place 3 weeks after the first one. Nitrogen fertilizers, e.g. ammonium nitrate, are usually used for this task. We remove emerging weeds from flower beds so that they do not interfere with the healthy growth of plants.
Shrubs in April also require a little attention from the gardener. The soil should be mulched under shrubs, especially those with a shallow root system (e.g. azaleas, rhododendrons, witch hazel or heathers). Mulch, composed of bark or compost, will help retain moisture in the soil and effectively prevent it from drying out. For climbing plants, it is necessary to set supports so that they have something to put their shoots on. After flowering, we prune the forsythia bushes.
Planting shrubs and ornamental trees, conifers and cold green species also takes place in April. However, you must remember to do this before the plants put out the first leaves. After planting, we prune them, and we must form a bowl-shaped depression around the trunk, which will perfectly retain water.
In April, we trim the hedges so that they can grow freely. If necessary, we form topiary, i.e. plant sculptures. Water all planted plants with water if necessary (e.g. drought lasting several days).
We remove faded flowers of bulbous plants (snowdrops, crocuses) from flower beds so that they do not strain to produce seeds. Their leaves should be left to turn yellow, while the bulbs will be able to accumulate supplies during this time.
Orders in the orchard
In April, we have to cut the trees to the end. This applies to the species most vulnerable to frost damage, i.e. plums, peaches, apricots and nectarines. It is also necessary to trim the vines. The treatment should be carried out as soon as possible, but without exposing the plant to low temperatures. By cutting the vine too late, we can expect heavy leakage from the cut wounds and weakening of the bush. When pruning, it is important to realize that the vine works on one-year-old shoots that grow from two-year-old, woody shoots.
SEE: Balls, Knives, Gardening axes
When we plan to transplant fruit trees, we must remember that April is the deadline for this action. Branches intended for transplantation are shortened depending on their thickness (to a length of 30 to 60 cm counting from the branching point). The lower branches should be longer and the upper ones shorter. We shorten the transplant guide by approx. 30 cm to the last branching. The transplant site should be smooth, without mechanical damage and branching. In April, garden centers and shops have the largest islands of trees to plant, so you can go ahead and take advantage of the offer. Trees and shrubs with bare roots can be planted until they have no leaves yet. Pruning trees planted in spring and autumn is a little different. The first ones are the bestj trim a little more strongly. In addition, it is worth using a mycorrhizal vaccine for fruit trees. It will strengthen the root system of trees and facilitate the uptake of nutrients from the ground. The effect after using this vaccine will be staggering - the trees will be stronger, healthier, and the crop itself will be much more abundant.
In April, it is necessary to take care of fruit bushes. Woody seedlings of currants and vines await planting. They should be placed at such a depth that there is one bud on the surface. The propagation of gooseberries or vines requires horizontal layering, while the propagation of blackberry is a matter of top layering.
An important aspect of the care of fruit trees and shrubs are sprays that fight pests and support the defense systems of trees. Spraying depends on the weather, but the first spraying is usually done around mid-April, and the second in May.
Blackcurrant needs some attention from the gardener. You should carefully review its shoots and remove unnaturally swollen buds, which were most likely attacked by the blackcurrant grandbud. Orchard plants also include strawberries and wild strawberries. In April, it is worth trying to remove old, dried leaves. Then you need to move the soil between the rows and between the plants. These two plants do not have very high fertilization requirements, but watering is extremely important. It is necessary to provide water to strawberries and wild strawberries at least once a week.
Vegetable garden in April
The beginning of April is a sign that lamb's lettuce can be sown in the ground. It tolerates low temperatures well, is easy to grow and has a short growing season. Seedlings of onions, leeks, lettuce and kohlrabi are planted in their permanent place. Peas and spinach should be planted in mid-April - this is the last call for them. April is the perfect time to sow radishes. It is worth doing it throughout the month at 7-10 day intervals in different places. After sowing, cover it with lagging. You have to remember that radish is a sun-loving vegetable. April is the month when mid-late varieties of carrots, parsley, dill and parsnips are sown. At the end of the month, sow chicory, broad beans, salsify and sorrel.
SEE: VEGETABLE SEEDS
The production of seedlings is also the domain of April. Seeds of broccoli, early varieties of kohlrabi, medium-late and late varieties of lettuce, cabbage and rutabaga can be sown in the seedbed. In addition, we can start the production of corn in small pots, into which we sow 2-3 seeds.
Beetroot seeds should go straight into the ground. If we grow potatoes ourselves, we also need to plant them in April. This is a fantastic idea, because in the early summer we will be able to enjoy new potatoes straight from our own vegetable garden.
If we care about the greatest possible protection of vegetable plants, it is worth spraying them with biopreparation based on garlic and placing garlic sticks in the soil. These methods will effectively deal with pests.
Lawn care in April
It is very possible that some of the lawn care activities were carried out in March, but if not, it is worth starting April with lawn regeneration. It should be mowed and the felt removed. In addition, it is important to fertilize the lawn (SEE: LAWN FERTILIZERS) and water it. The edges of the lawn should be treated with a special edge knife, then the whole thing will look very aesthetically pleasing. If, during the observation, we notice holes in the grass, we must spread the seeds in the missing places as soon as possible, first loosening the soil and sprinkling with peat. When we get bored of a typical lawn, we can set up a flower meadow, if we have enough space for it.
At the end of April, the fight against the first weeds appearing in the lawn begins. The best solution for the grass is hand weeding, so it is worth trying it if possible.
Eye-pleasing pond
Many gardens have ponds or ponds. There's plenty of work to do in April. They should be thoroughly cleaned of dead residues. In addition, it is worth dividing coastal plants into underwater ones. In April, water lily planting occurs. If it is not warm enough, it is worth postponing this activity to the end of the month. Pumps and filters should be started, and if we have fish - this is a great time to start feeding
April at home
Plants live not only outside. Many of us have some kind of gardens at home, which, with the arrival of April, demand attention. First, we repot the potted plants into larger containers. We have to wait about 2 weeks with fertilization. Then we spray the plants against diseases and pests. We must remember about regular watering, and everything depends on how much water the plant needs. Some plants have specific requirements and need watering with boiled water and acidifying fertilizer (e.g. azaleas, hydrangeas). We often have spring bulbs at home, which fade quickly. To slow down this process, it is worth placing them in cooler places.
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