Due to Covid -19, life as we know it has been put on hold. It's not easy, I am on the shielding list so not able to leave the house for the coming months. It's frustrating but more so heartbreaking hearing what is going on all around us. It's a time to be, to slow down, reassess and get back to nature. Just seeing the tulips open and perennial new life emerge gives such hope and provides such a delightful distraction from it all. We all know getting food currently isn't easy, who else took being able to go shopping for granted? It really is time to try grown your own if you haven't already. April is such a busy month for a gardener but what a blessing to be able to linger over the tasks to be done, be mindful and escape.
Sow/Plant:
Sow hardy annuals and perennials under
cover and direct.
Sow courgettes, leeks, peas, beetroot under cover.
Sow carrots, spinach, chard, peas, beetroot, radish direct.
Pot up dahlia tubers.
Plant out sweet peas.
Sow tomatoes, cucumbers and aubergines
in a propagator.
Prick out and pot on seedlings.
Prepare beds and borders - weed!
Lift and divide snowdrops.
Harvest/pick:
Tulips, hyacinths, daffodils
leeks, kale, cabbage, chard, spinach.
Secature/lopper jobs:
Prune cornus (dogwoods at the end of the
month) and pot up the cuttings
Prune winter flowering jasmine after
flowering.
Cut back old perennials growth
Deadhead hydrangeas
Stake/support:
Start staking tall perennials before they get
too tall!
Make a sweet pea wigwam.
Lawns and ponds:
Re edge, repair lawns and sow grass seed.
Mow when the grass starts growing but
not too short!
"In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they're still beautiful." - Alice Walker