Time to shake off winter. . .

April is the month when your garden truly shakes off winter and surges into growth. Buds swell, borders fill out, blossom arrives in clouds of pink and white, and lawns suddenly seem to need mowing twice a week. With every warm day the garden changes its shape, and with every shower the soil softens and wakes. This is a month of momentum—full of promise, colour, and the satisfying sense that the gardening year is finally in full swing.

Many gardeners think of April as a carefree explosion of greenery, but it’s also a period of rapid change that can catch you off guard. Tender shoots are vulnerable to late frosts, sudden downpours, and Lincolnshire’s famous east winds. Keep fleece ready, check young plants regularly, and be prepared to move containers or seedlings to shelter when needed. April rewards attentiveness: the more often you look, the more you’ll catch tasks at just the right moment.

If February and March are the months of preparation, April is the month of action. Soil is warmer, perennials are emerging, and beds are ready for their first planting of the year.

• Plant new perennials now so they can root in before the summer heat arrives.

• Lift and divide overgrown clumps of hosta, aster, rudbeckia, and hardy geraniums if you didn’t manage this in March.

• Install plant supports early, before growth flops—metal hoops, bamboo wigwams, or twiggy pea sticks all work beautifully and look natural.

Mulching is still beneficial in early April if you haven’t already applied it. A 5 cm layer of well-rotted compost suppresses weeds and locks in moisture before the hotter months.

Many spring-flowering shrubs—such as forsythia, flowering currant, and early-flowering spiraea—reach their peak this month. Enjoy the display, but plan ahead: as soon as flowering is finished, prune to shape and encourage fresh growth for next year’s blooms. Evergreens can also be lightly trimmed now to maintain tidy outlines.

April is also a key month for monitoring new shrub growth. If you’ve planted dogwoods, hydrangeas, or buddleias in previous years, check that new shoots are strong and upright. Apply a slow-release feed around their bases and water in well.

The vegetable plot also springs into life in April. Soil temperatures are finally high enough for many seeds to germinate outdoors. You can sow carrots, beetroot, lettuce, spinach, spring onions, chard, and peas directly into prepared beds. Broad beans can still go in, and potatoes should be planted by mid-month.

Indoors or in the greenhouse, tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, and squash seedlings should be growing strongly. Begin hardening them off later in the month on mild days, but don’t rush them outside— the cool nights can still do damage.

Weeds will also leap into growth now. A weekly hoeing session keeps them easily under control and saves hours of work later in the season. Birds begin nesting in earnest in April, so avoid heavy pruning or hedge cutting. Keep feeders topped up and provide fresh water. Pollinators also return, so flowering plants like pulmonaria, primroses, and early herbs are invaluable sources of nectar.

April brings vibrancy, pace, and possibility to the garden. The tasks may be many, but they’re infused with promise: every seed sown, plant staked, or bed mulched contributes to the abundant months ahead. Take time to pause and enjoy the changes—April is a month to savour as much as it is to work.