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Garden Notes for April 2024.

The frosts this winter have taken their toll of many shrubs, so take a careful look around and prune out any obviously dead growth. Silver leafed shrubs such as lavender, sage and santolina should be cut to within 5cm – 10cm of the ground, once new growth is visible at the base. On old woody bits, it is better to go easy and cut back to last year’s growth. Generally speaking, spring flowering shrubs like forsythia, winter jasmine and flowering currant should be pruned after they have flowered.

Sow hardy annuals such as marigold, nigella, candytuft, cornflower and nasturtium direct in their prepared beds. Sunflowers can be started too. Sow 15cm (6”) apart for a crop of long stemmed flowers. Sow them further apart (about 30cm) if you want a succession of flowers on shorter side shoots.

Pinch out the growing tips of coleus, fuchsias, pelargonium and petunia to encourage bushy growth. Leave a can of water in the greenhouse to warm up before you water, this will reduce plants getting a shock from icy cold water. If you are sowing fine seeds (like nicotinia) – water the compost first. This avoids washing the seed deep into it.

Now is the time to cut off the flowers of hydrangeas that have been left on for winter protection. Shorten any thin of old shoots of H. macrophylla (mopheads or lacecaps) to their lowest bud. To get large flowers on H. paniculata cut the main branches to within two buds of their base.

Divide chives or mint if they are crowded (dispose of the roots carefully, they are invasive). You should finish planting main crop potatoes, and earth up any early growth. Frost is still a clear and present danger!

In unheated greenhouses sow Brussels sprouts, calabrese, summer cauliflower, kale and lettuce. In outdoor beds you can sow broad bean, beetroot, early carrots, chard, kohl rabi, parsnips, peas, radish, spinach, spring onion and turnips. Plant out onion sets. Peas can be started in a length of guttering in the greenhouse. When the seedlings are ready to go out, the compost will be held together by their roots and the whole row can then be slid into position.

Remember to pot on any rooted cuttings as they develop, don’t let them become pot-bound.

The Capel Horticultural Society Plant Sale will be held on Saturday 11th May in the Village Hall starting at 10 a.m. This will provide an opportunity to get well grown bedding plants, shrubs and even vegetables for the summer season at competitive prices. So make a note and be sure to turn up promptly as all sales are on a first-come, first-served basis.

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