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April gardening jobs

April brings with it longer days and occasionally mild, sunny weather. Daffodils are springing up all around, and trees are covered in blossom. The colder chill of winter has passed, and spring is in full swing. It's time to enjoy that gentle sunshine, so read on for our top tips on gardening in April.

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April Focus: Growing vegetables

Growing your own produce is one of the most rewarding things to do in your outdoor space. And with its longer, lighter days, April is the best time to start your ‘grow your own’ project. This time of year is best for planning ahead. Get sowing all of your favourite Christmas vegetables such as parsnips, leeks and of course Brussels sprouts. At B&Q our selection of vegetable seeds covers a whole range, so you'll always find something, no matter how much space or time you have.

Take a look at our guides to help you with all your growing projects, full of great advice from when to plant to how to look after them.

Three planters made from pallet collars, each filled with vegetables. One planter is open, another has a plastic greenhouse on top, and the third features a structure for climbing plants.Three planters made from pallet collars, each filled with vegetables. One planter is open, another has a plastic greenhouse on top, and the third features a structure for climbing plants.Three planters made from pallet collars, each filled with vegetables. One planter is open, another has a plastic greenhouse on top, and the third features a structure for climbing plants.Three planters made from pallet collars, each filled with vegetables. One planter is open, another has a plastic greenhouse on top, and the third features a structure for climbing plants.

Gardening jobs for April

General April garden tasks

  • Spring clean borders, keep on top of weeding and hoeing
  • Feed roses, borders, hedges, trees, shrubs and spring bulbs with general purpose fertiliser
  • Mulch borders with compost from the compost bin. This will not only lock in moisture and give plants a feed, but it will also help to improve the soil
  • If you've not got one already, install a water butt to harvest rainwater from roofs, including the greenhouse, ready for the summer ahead.
A water butt with a tap on the front, installed next to a patio, for collecting rainwater.A water butt with a tap on the front, installed next to a patio, for collecting rainwater.A water butt with a tap on the front, installed next to a patio, for collecting rainwater.A water butt with a tap on the front, installed next to a patio, for collecting rainwater.

Outdoor paint projects

  • Paint the outside of your home. Now is the perfect time of the year to give your exterior walls a fresh lick of paint. Touch up any scuffs with our range of masonry paint.
  • Spruce up your front door with some exterior door paint. Late April is a great time of the year to paint your front door. Start in the morning, and your door should be dry by evening. Need some advice? Check out our step-by-step guide on painting a front door.
  • Upcycle garden furniture. Getting a bit tired of your outdoor seating? Why not use our exterior woodcare to give your wooden garden furniture a new lease of life? Choose from a range of bold colours.
  • Touch up your shed or fence panels with exterior shed and fence paint. Your fence panels and shed might be looking a little worse for wear after battling the harsh elements throughout winter. Check out article for a handy guide on painting a wooden shed and give your garden a refresh.
A dark grey garden shed located at the end of a gravel and paving slab garden path, surrounded by vibrant, colourful flowers.A dark grey garden shed located at the end of a gravel and paving slab garden path, surrounded by vibrant, colourful flowers.A dark grey garden shed located at the end of a gravel and paving slab garden path, surrounded by vibrant, colourful flowers.A dark grey garden shed located at the end of a gravel and paving slab garden path, surrounded by vibrant, colourful flowers.

Vegetables and herbs

  • Sow broad beans, summer cabbage, Brussel sprouts, early peas, summer/autumn cauliflower, sprouting broccoli, leeks, beetroot, radish, spring onion, lettuce, rocket, turnip, spinach, parsnips, carrot and onion
  • Plant first early, second early and maincrop potatoes. Earth up shoots of early potatoes to protect them from frost with garden canes and netting
  • Look after your veg - water and hoe regularly, thin out and transplant seedlings, and give support to peas and beans sown earlier
  • Sow hardy herbs like parsley, coriander, fennel, dill and marjoram
A person holding a handful of carrots which have just been removed from the ground.A person holding a handful of carrots which have just been removed from the ground.A person holding a handful of carrots which have just been removed from the ground.A person holding a handful of carrots which have just been removed from the ground.

Fruit

  • Plant out strawberry plants into soil enriched with well-rotten manure
  • Feed blackcurrants, blackberries, and hybrid berries

Under cover

  • Ventilate the greenhouse on sunny days, but shut it down mid-afternoon to retain the heat at night
  • Towards the end of the month, start hardening off bedding plants and frost-tender vegetables grown indoors by standing them outside on fine days
  • Prick out, and thin out seedlings
  • Sow frost-tender vegetables like cucumbers, sweetcorn, French and runner beans, marrows, pumpkins, squashes and courgettes, for planting outdoors later in a room temperature indoor environment.
  • Sow tomato seeds
A small plastic garden greenhouse with two shelves, filled with a variety of plants in pots.A small plastic garden greenhouse with two shelves, filled with a variety of plants in pots.A small plastic garden greenhouse with two shelves, filled with a variety of plants in pots.A small plastic garden greenhouse with two shelves, filled with a variety of plants in pots.

Ponds

  • Spring clean the pond with a pond net or blanket weed brush
  • Divide overgrown plants and put in new water plants
  • Towards the end of the month start feeding your fish

Lawns

  • In warmer conditions, feed grass with a lawn feed to help to encourage spring growth
  • Scarify patches of moss and remove weeds. If you have a large lawn that needs work, use a moss and weed killer and re-seed any bare patches.
  • Sow grass seed to make a new lawn if you can’t wait until autumn
  • Mow lawns at least once a fortnight or once a week in really mild weather
  • When growing daffodils in grass, mow around patches of the bulbs

Trees, shrubs and climbers

  • Plant or move evergreen trees and shrubs
  • Feed acid-loving plants such as rhododendrons
  • Continue planting pot-grown woody plants
  • Use a hedge trimmer to tidy up hedges and clip if necessary - although it’s usually best to leave this until next
  • month (always check there are no birds nesting first)
  • Plant pot-grown evergreens for hedges

Flowers

  • Wait for six weeks after flowers of spring bulbs are over before cutting the foliage down
  • Continue to plant perennials and finish dividing and replanting summer flowering perennials
  • Plant out hardy annuals sown inside in autumn
  • Continue to sow hardy annuals outside
  • Remove any horticultural fleece from borderline-hardy plants

Patios and containers

  • Plant spring bedding and summer bulbs in pots
  • Plant compact trees, shrubs, and evergreens in pots
  • Plant up hanging baskets with spring bedding

April garden project: Create a bird friendly garden

A few quick and easy considerations in your garden design can help invite all sort of birds into the garden. Read our guide for top tips and ideas to help attract more feathered guests to visit your home.