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What to do in April

april
  •   Sow hardy annuals, such as love-in-a-mist and pot marigolds, as well as native wildflowers, into gaps in borders
  •   Enjoy instant colour by planting primulas and polyanthus in pots and at the front of borders
  •   Protect the new shoots of hostas, delphiniums, lupins and other vulnerable plants from slugs and snails
  •   Continue deadheading spring bulbs and bedding, so they don't waste energy setting seed
  •   Plant pineapple lily (eucomis) bulbs in pots for exotic-looking summer flowers
  •   Plant second-early and maincrop potatoes
  •   Place cardboard collars around the stems of brassicas to deter cabbage root fly from laying their eggs
  •   Pinch out the tips of broad beans if they're covered in aphids, or spray shoots with soap-based solution
  •   Sow outdoor varieties of tomatoes, chillies and courgettes in pots, so they're ready to plant out in late May or June
  •   Divide clumps of hardy herbs, such as lemon balm and chives, then replant in pots, borders or a dedicated herb bed
  •   Prick out seedlings growing in pots and trays as soon as they produce their first true leaves
  •   Sow sweet peas in deep pots and keep them frost free in a greenhouse or on a sunny windowsill
  •   Start feeding houseplants once a week with liquid fertiliser, continuing through to autumn
  •   Sow quick-growing microgreens, such as kale and mustard, for nutrient-rich pickings in just a few weeks
  •   Transplant greenhouse tomatoes into growing bags or large containers and tie in the stems to supports
  •   Put a bag of barley straw in ponds to discourage algae and keep the water clear all summer
  •   Lay turf or sow grass seed to create a new lawn or repair damaged patches
  •   Cut back tatty old fern fronds to make way for new ones that are starting to unfurl
  •   Keep cloches or large sheets of fleece handy to protect young plants if late frost is forecast
  •   Cut away unwanted suckers growing around the base of trees and shrubs