Gardening Calendar - April to June
April
· Start keeping weeds under control. Time spent now weeding and mulching will save days later in the season.
· Start feeding citrus plants with a specialist fertiliser.
· Chit and plant out second early potatoes in the 1st half of the month and the main crop early in the 2nd half.
· Sow beetroot, carrots, summer cauliflower, lettuce, radish, peas and perpetual spinach in prepared soil.
· Put canes and supports in place to support tall perennials.
· Continue protecting lily, delphinium and hostas from slugs with the bird friendly pellets.
· Deadhead pansies and polyanthus.
· Plant out sown sweetpeas.
· Apply general purpose fertiliser to borders and mulch beds, be careful not to damage emerging shoots.
· Check if containers and pots need watering.
· Tie in climbing and rambling roses as near to horizontal as possible, this will encourage flower production.
· Mow lawns, this is also the best month to apply lawn weedkiller.
· Apply high nitrogen spring lawn fertiliser, if moss is a problem apply combined fertiliser and mosskiller.
· Plant water lilies.
· Think about installing patios, decking or other seating areas for summer use.
May
· Avoid frost damage to tender plants by covering with fleece.
· Hang pheromone traps in apple trees to reduce codling moth.
· Sow French and runner beans, squash cucumbers and pumpkin seeds directly into prepared beds.
· Plant out tomatoes, courgettes and pumpkins after frosts have passed.
· Plant out herbs such as coriander and basil.
· Cannas and dahlias can be planted out when danger of frosts is passed.
· Keep on top of weeding.
· Remove spring bedding to make space for summer plants.
· Ensure newly planted trees and shrubs do not dry out.
· Prune spring flowering shrubs after flowering.
· Mow lawns regularly and apply summer fertiliser.
· Put up shading on greenhouses.
· Use an algae killer to clean paths that have become slippery.
June
· Harvest spring lettuce and radishes and continue with successional sowings.
· Plant out summer bedding.
· Stake tall perennials to prevent wind damage to flower spikes.
· Keep troughs hanging baskets and pots well watered.
· Tackle bindweed, either dig it out or paint a systemic weedkiller on the leaves.
· Clip privet and box hedging.
· Water around the crown of tree ferns, especially newly planted ones.
