Monthly Garden Advice for April
Plant of the Month
must be the Magnolia producing the spectacular tulip shaped flowers of Magnolia x soulangeana or the smaller star shaped flowers of M.stellata. Both require a sunny sheltered site with moisture retentive acid soil. Use Ericaceous compost when planting and mulching and feed with ericaceous feeds when established.
Lawns
April and early May provide ideal conditions for sowing new lawns following the preparation last month. Apply a base fertiliser and select the appropriate variety of seed from the range available in the garden centre e.g. Shady, Multi-purpose, Luxury and Country Meadow. Apply Feed, Weed and Mosskiller control to established lawns in mild weather.
Tomato Plants
can be set out in cold greenhouses towards the end of the month. Use tomato feed to keep the plants growing on in the 10cm pots until the first flowers show, before planting in containers or growbags. Select from the wide range of varieties available from our nurseries. The variety ‘Sungold’ would be an ideal choice to get the children involved in growing their own.
Colour Impact
This will be achieved by planting just one variety of plant in a container rather than a mixture, e.g. Diascia, Bacopa, Nemesia, Surfinia, Million Bells (Calibrachoa) and Ivy Geraniums may be used. Keep pinching terminal growth to produce bushy plants and feed regularly with Magigrow feed and then Phostrogen for a summer long display.
Quick Tips
• use Pathclear on patios, paths and gravel drives to control weeds
• protect young Hosta shoots from slug damage with organic slug killer
