April in the Garden
April showers bring May flowers 🌸
April brings a burst of colour and life to the garden — daffodils, blossom trees, and new shoots everywhere you look. The days are longer, the air feels warmer, and there’s so much to do outdoors. Between the sunny spells and April showers, it’s time to prepare your soil, nurture young plants, and give everything a well-deserved boost after winter.
Top Jobs for April
- Prepare seedbeds for spring vegetables like cauliflower, leeks, potatoes, and carrots. Rake the soil to a fine tilth so that air and water can flow freely — especially important for straight, healthy carrots that don’t fork around stones.
- Earth up potatoes once they’re established. Pull soil over the stems every 2–3 weeks to protect them from frost and encourage more tubers to form.
- Plant or uncover strawberries, keeping fleece handy in case of late frosts.
- Feed fruit trees by spreading compost or fertiliser around the base to add nutrients.
- Start planting salad crops such as lettuce, radish, beetroot, pak choi, and chicory. Stagger sowing over several days or weeks to ensure a steady harvest rather than everything maturing at once.
- Prune raspberry canes to around 23 cm (9 in) from the ground and install canes or supports for the new growth to climb.
- Keep weeds under control before they take hold.
- Protect fruit blossom on apples, pears, and plums from frost using fleece or covers overnight.
- Tie in climbing and rambling roses to their supports as they grow.
- Sow hardy annuals, herbs, and wildflower seeds outdoors to bring colour and pollinators into the garden.
- Feed shrubs, roses, and citrus plants, and increase watering for houseplants as they start to grow more vigorously.
- Sow or repair lawns on mild, dry days for lush growth through summer.
- Prune fig trees and divide bamboos or waterlilies if they’ve become crowded.
General Garden Care
April is all about balance — growth and care, sunshine and showers. Keep an eye on soil moisture, as wind and unexpected warmth can dry the surface quickly. Mulching borders will help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
What’s in Stock This Month
At Newquay Garden Centre, we’re bursting into spring with everything you need to get growing:
- Seed potatoes, vegetable plants, and salad starters ready for planting
- Lawn feed, seed, and topsoil for perfect spring grass
- Flower and wildflower seeds to attract pollinators
- Compost, fertilisers, and mulch to give your soil a nutrient boost
- Roses, fruit trees, and soft fruit plants arriving fresh for the season
Pop in for friendly advice from our expert team — we’ll help you choose the best plants and products for your garden this spring.
Cornwall Gardening Tip
April’s mild, coastal climate in Cornwall means the growing season can start early — but don’t be fooled, late frosts can still strike inland and in valleys. Protect tender plants with fleece and use windbreaks in exposed areas. The extra warmth also means weeds and slugs get an early start, so stay on top of them from now!
