Top 10 jobs this month

1. Control perennial weeds with weed control barrier sheet and Roudup as weather warms.

• 2. Protect fruit blossum from late frosts with fleece.

• 3. Tie in climbing and rambling roses.

• 4. Sow hardy annuals and a large choice of herbs and vegetables. Direct sow Nigella, Calendula and poppies.

• 5. Start to feed citrus plants with citrus foliar feed.
  

• 6. Increase the water given to houseplants.

• 7. Top dress shrubs with bonemeal and roses with Toprose
  

• 8. Sow new lawns with bare patches - always use a good quality seed.

• 9. Prune fig trees to keep an open shape, removing crossing branches and suckers from the base.

• 10. Install plant ring supports while shoots are small to avoid damage.

Garden Diary

April

It is genuinely spring now with the temperature having the potential to rise into the 20s, but still with the threat of snow and frost.

Flowers and Bedding

Sweet peas can be planted out now, but don't be tempted to plant out your summer bedding. Although it is available to buy you shouldn't plant it outside until the end of May. If you have the space, plant up your containers and baskets in a light frost free area to grow on. Feed and water them regularly. Sow hardy annuals.

Perennials

Divide Michaelmas daisies, Rudbeckia, Monarda and Helianthus. Stake Delphiniums towards the end of the month. Plant out Dahlia tubers at the end of the month and protect from frost if necessary.

Shrubs and Climbers

Evergreen trees can be planted in dull weather. Water any newly planted areas during dry spells.Cut back Forsythia once it has finished flowering. Cut back Buddleia davidii and Hydrangea paniculuta hard.

Trees and Hedges

Evergreen hedges and weed and hoe under existing hedges. Water newly planted trees and hedges during dry spells. Mulch before the soil dries out too much.

Roses

Finish pruning roses as soon as possible. Feed with rose fertiliser. Start tying in new growth on climbers and ramblers. Mulch beds with well rotted manure. It is fine to plant container grown roses throughout the year providing that the soil is workable.

Lawn

You may need to mow twice a week if the weather is good. Lower the blades gradually. You can start using a feed,weed and mosskill product from now on. Roll to firm the roots on newly seeded lawns. It is alright to turf if the weather is dull and moist.

Vegetables

Plant onion sets and sow salad vegetables. Sow late summer cauliflowers, wrinkle seeded peas, beetroot, winter cabbage, purple sprouting broccoli and calabrese. Protect potato foliage from frost and remove rhubarb flowers.

Fruit

Keep a watch for pests on flowering fruit. Make sure that pollinating insects can reach fruit under glass. Water any new planted fruit in dry spells. Continue spraying.

Pond

Buy and plant new pond and marginal plants. Gradually lower water lilies to their eventual depth. If you see any pests on your plants remove them by hand. There is too much danger of contaminating the water if you use a pesticide.

Greenhouse

Increase ventilation and shade young seedlings in sunny weather. Take down any insulation, such as bubble wrap, towards the end of the month. Plant tomatoes in a cool greenhouse. Start supporting and pinching out early tomatoes.

Indoors

Water cacti.Continue watering and feed and potting on the rest. Propagate by cuttings or division any that you would like more of.