Plants on sale now and looking good this month:
- New stock of shrubs now available.
- Early season geraniums now on sale – ideal for containers and borders.
- Early small herbaceous plants – great value.
- New season Clematis and Wisteria now in.
- Early tomatoes and vegetables start arriving, but will need protection from cold snaps.
Top jobs for April:
Keep weeds under control.
Weeds can be controlled without resorting to weedkillers, and instead killing or restricting the weeds by physical action, either manual removal or smothering, burning and using weed barriers. We sell weedstop which forms a physical barrier. Weedkillers are also available, and we stock an increasing range of chemical alternative products.
Sow hardy annuals, herbs and wild flower seed outdoors.
Tie in rambling and climbing roses.
These will be producing new growth now, so it’s a good time to tie them in to influence the future shape of your rose. We sell twine or other tie solutions in our Garden Accessories display.
Start to feed citrus plants.
From late March to late October, use a summer feed high in nitrogen – remember these plants a very greedy so can take a feed every fortnight during the growing season.
Increase the water and feed given to houseplants.
Increase frequency of feeding using high nitrogen feed (Baby Bio) for plants grown for their attractive leaves and high potash feed (Miracle-gro) for those grown for their flowers.
Feed hungry shrubs and roses.
Use a general purpose fertiliser like blood, fish and bone. Many alternative types of fertiliser are available in our chemicals section.
Sow new lawns or repair bare patches.
Be prepared to take time preparing a good seedbed, it pays in the long run. Sow hard wearing ryegrass based mixtures for lawns used by children and pets but fescue and bent grass based mixes for the best looking lawn. Our lawn seed boxes have easy to understand packaging helping you select the right seed mix for you.
Prune fig trees.
Remove any branches that spoil the shape, or which are crossing or damaged, along with any suckers appearing from the ground. If needed cut back one or two branches that have become too long and bare to a 5cm (2in) stub to stimulate new growth from the base of the branch.
Tie in tender shoots of Clematis as they grow.
Watch out for slug and snail damage. There are lots of alternatives to slug pellets; we stock several pet safe and organic products that stop slug, or rely natural predators.