Top gardening tips for April from Head Gardener Paul Scriven

Now that spring has well and truly arrived, we’re starting to welcome more visitors in to the garden. It’s always a delight to meet those who haven’t been before, as well as our regular visitors who come to enjoy and explore the beautiful space.

Our brilliant team of volunteers are doing an excellent job in helping us keep on top of the garden maintenance, with Brian keeping very busy in the veg patch!

I’ve been very impressed with how our two horticulture apprentices are developing their knowledge and skills. It’s a pleasure to be part of such a great team.

Mandy, one of our Horticulture Apprentices, watering seedlings March 2022.

As we head in to April, I’ve put a little list together of my recommendations on jobs you should be aiming to complete at this time of year, I hope you find this useful.

• Plant evergreen trees and shrubs (if it was not done in October) and water them in.

• Begin spraying roses with sulphur to deter blackspot, repeat fortnightly and begin feeding them.

• Tie in new shoots of climbing plants.

• Divide perennials and begin staking taller varieties.

• Deadhead/prune hydrangeas.

• Plant summer flowering bulbs.

• Prune half hardy salvias.

• Watch for plants in the greenhouse drying out and begin hardening-off tender plants.

• Plant dahlia tubers.

• Continue sowing vegetable and herb seeds.

• Prune stone fruits such as plums, cherries & peaches.

If you’re having any specific difficulties with a plant in your garden, or if you’re just after some advice, we are now running FREE Gardening Q & A sessions on Friday mornings at 11am in the Reclaimed Barn. If you’ve booked a visit for a Friday, why no pop along and have a chat - I’d be happy to help!

See you soon

Paul Scriven

Head Gardener at Careys Secret Garden