Article submitted for Aprils Stamford and Rutland Scene Magazine 2010
April is a month commonly known for its showers, not that we don't get them in most other months of the year! However this trend helps us to remember to work on ensuring the garden is ready to face those (hopefully) drier and sunnier months. Covering flower beds with a good bark mulch not only helps to keep the need for weeding down a little, but it also helps the soil retain its moisture ready for this great growth spurt that the longer and warmer days bring. It doesn't have to be bark, gravel is another great option and can, in the right garden, really look the part as well, although you might want to think twice if the neighbours are cat lovers!
With February and March's spring bulbs dying back it's vital that we only remove the spent heads of the likes of daffodils and leave the foliage for at least 6 weeks. This allows the bulbs to regenerate and ensures they can bloom all over again next year.
Hopefully by now your garden will be starting to fill out again with perennials but I think its important to say that if it hasn't, wait a little while before adding bedding plants, unless you can cover these up at night as the odd frost is still likely. One of my favourite perennials is the Lupin, however this also happens to be one that the slugs like too and so protecting these new shoots with some copper bands, slug traps or garlic granules is vital to allow them the time to get re established and stand a chance of surviving the spring breakfast. I would however suggest you try and avoid slug pellets as, whilst you will be keeping your slug population low, you will also potentially harm the humble hedgehog and local frogs who are only trying to help.
Last month we talked about our lawns a little. Whilst a good lawn is sometimes a little tricky, you can help by giving it a good rake over with a tin rake to remove some of the dead grass and revealing any bare patches filling these up or re-sowing before the weeds get in there and take over, simply dressing the lawn with a little lawn sand and peat free multi purpose compost can also give those grass seeds the best possible start.
As for the kitchen garden you can start earthing up early potatoes, repotting tomato plants as they mature in the greenhouse and feeding fruit trees and bushes to ensure a healthy and full crop. As with the rest of the garden wage war on weeds, removing them as soon as you spot them to help keep on top of the job a little easier.
I could go on and on as April is such a busy month, but I also feel the key is to get out there and look around, there's something new to look at almost every day. Enjoy your garden and the nature thats waking up with it
