April Gardening Made Simple: What To Do Now

Spring blossom is here and leaves are beginning to unfurl, bringing fresh colour and energy back into the garden

🔑 April is a key month for supporting strong, healthy growth of trees and shrubs. A little timely care now will set the foundation for the rest of the year🌸

1. Guard fruit blossom from late frosts

The buds and blossom on fruit trees and bushes are vulnerable to late frosts. The frost can affect fruit set, so it is worth protecting the flowers using horticultural fleece.

2. Planting for the year ahead

Container-grown trees and shrubs can be planted, benefiting from moist soil and mild conditions. Stake newly planted trees and water regularly as they establish.

Take a look at our Planting and Aftercare guides for simple, step-by-step instructions to give your tree the best start.

3. Tie in climbers

Tie in climbers such as Roses, Honeysuckle and Clematis. For climbing Roses, tying in branches more horizontally will encourage more sideshoots and flowers.

4. Hard prune for colourful growth

Cut back shrubs with colourful winter stems or vibrant new leaves to promote new growth. This includes Dogwood (Cornus), Willow (Salix) and Smoke Bush (Cotinus). This is best done at the start of April, pruning last year’s growth back hard.