How to Master Your April Gardening Jobs: The Essential Guide for British Gardens

Spring is in full swing by April, and British gardens are bursting into life with leafy trees, blooming shrubs, and fresh green hedging. This is a rewarding time to get hands-on, supporting new growth and preparing your outdoor space for the warmer months ahead.

The UK gardening calendar for April is rich with activity. For tree lovers, it's a brilliant month to feed ornamental trees and shrubs, check on young hedge plants, and top up mulch to lock in moisture as temperatures rise. If you're thinking of adding structure or year-round interest, now is a great time to plant container-grown trees and evergreen hedging.

As your outdoor space awakens, focusing on soil care and general tidying can make all the difference. Topping up compost, removing weeds, and refreshing borders will help support healthy root systems. It’s also a good moment to assess any winter damage and give your trees and hedging a boost with the right feed.

This guide takes you through the key April gardening jobs, with expert tips to encourage healthy growth, support wildlife, and help your trees and hedging flourish well into summer. Let’s dig in and make April a month of progress in the garden!

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Essential April Tree and Shrub Care

April brings longer days and rising temperatures, making it the ideal time to care for ornamental trees, flowering shrubs, and hedging plants before the season’s growth kicks into full gear. With the right feed and a few finishing touches, you can set your garden up for a vibrant summer.

Fertilising trees and shrubs

Spring feeding gives ornamental trees the nutrients they need to produce strong foliage, healthy branches, and seasonal resilience. Use a balanced, slow-release fertiliser designed specifically for trees, and apply it around the base—keeping it clear of the trunk. Water thoroughly to allow nutrients to penetrate the root zone.the shifting seasons, witnessing your outdoor space evolve into a vibrant sanctuary teeming with life and colour, promising endless enjoyment in the months ahead.

Trees such as Crataegus monogyna ‘Stricta’, Crataegus x media ‘Punicea’ (Fuchsia Pink), and Sorbus aucuparia (Rowan) benefit greatly from an April feed, helping them put on healthy growth as the season unfolds. Other favourites like Betula pendula (Silver Birch) and Acer campestre (Field Maple) also respond well to a spring nutrient boost, particularly in their early years.

Support newly planted trees with essential accessories such as stakes, ties, Rootgrow, or complete planting kits—ideal for stabilising young trees and encouraging strong root development.

Caring for Ornamental Trees

As ornamental trees begin to leaf out, April is the perfect time for seasonal upkeep to help them stay strong, shapely, and healthy.

Start by inspecting branches for any winter damage. Remove dead, crossing, or damaged limbs with sharp, clean secateurs to prevent disease and maintain a balanced structure. Avoid heavy pruning now, especially on flowering varieties that bloom on old wood—such as magnolias and flowering cherry trees.

Apply a fresh layer of organic mulch around the base to lock in moisture and suppress weeds. The RHS guide to mulching offers excellent advice on how and why it works. Keep mulch a few centimetres away from the trunk to avoid rot and pests.

Newly planted trees may need extra support during breezy April weather. Check that tree ties are secure but not restrictive—gentle movement helps strengthen the trunk.

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Refreshing Beds and Boosting Soil for Spring

By April, the soil is warming up, trees are leafing out, and borders are beginning to take shape. Now is the ideal time to refresh planting areas and support healthy spring growth with a few light maintenance tasks.

Spring Border Care

Start by removing early weeds before they have a chance to spread. A good weeding tool makes light work of removing deep-rooted invaders without disturbing nearby plants. Next, rake over bare patches with a garden rake to break up the surface and improve moisture penetration.

Check around newly planted trees or hedging for signs of compaction or poor drainage. Lightly aerate the soil with a hand fork to keep it loose and root-friendly.

If you didn’t mulch in March, there’s still time. Apply a 5–7.5cm layer of organic mulch to help conserve moisture and reduce weed growth. Keep mulch a few centimetres clear of tree trunks and stems to avoid rot and fungal issues.

Topping Up Soil Health

Boost your borders with well-rotted compost or leaf mould around ornamental trees and shrubs. Lightly fork it into the top layer of soil to support microbial activity and root health. A Hand Trowel is ideal for working in smaller spaces or around tree bases without damaging surface roots.

If you’re looking after young ornamental trees or hedging, now’s the time to check for uneven settling or dryness, and top up soil where needed.

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Your Spring Planting

April presents a great opportunity to enrich your garden with new container-grown trees and shrubs. As the soil continues to warm, roots establish quickly—setting your plants up for success before the summer heat arrives. Make sure the planting area is well-prepared, free from waterlogging, and water regularly during dry spells to support strong, healthy growth.

Flowering Trees and Shrubs to Plant in April

April is the ideal time to plant spring-flowering trees and shrubs that brighten borders, support pollinators, and bring structure and charm to your outdoor space. Here are some of our top ornamental picks this month.

Weigela – A Bold Border Favourite

Weigela florida 'Minor Black' bursts into colour with bright pink flowers and rich purple foliage. This compact shrub is perfect for garden borders and patio pots, attracting bees and adding drama with minimal effort.

Prunus – Spring Blossom Classic

Prunus 'Shirotae' (Mount Fuji) – Spreading branches with almond-scented white blossom in April. Beautiful and popular for lawn or specimen planting.

Magnolia – A Splash of Spring Sunshine

Magnolia ‘Sunsation’ produces large, golden-yellow tulip-shaped flowers in late spring. With its upright form and unusual colouring, it’s a stunning focal point for sunny spots.

Ninebark – Colourful Spring Structure

Physocarpus opulifolius 'Lady in Red' shows off with vibrant red leaves and clusters of delicate pink spring flowers. A hardy choice for year-round interest, it’s ideal for mixed beds or as a stand-alone feature.

Syringa – Scented Lilac Beauty

Syringa vulgaris 'Katherine Havemeyer' is a delightful lilac with double purple blooms that open in late spring. The sweet fragrance and lush flower heads make it a go-to shrub for cottage gardens and wildlife-friendly planting.

Malus – Crab Apple Charm

Malus 'Evereste' produces white blossom touched with pink in spring, followed by golden-orange fruit in autumn. Loved by pollinators and birds, it’s a top choice for ornamental planting and biodiversity.

Container planting guidelines

Good container planting starts with the right prep work. Pick containers that have proper drainage holes and use the right compost for your plants. Soil-based peat-free composts work best for long-term plantings, while multi-purpose varieties are great for seasonal displays.

Bigger containers are your best bet since they don't dry out as quickly as smaller ones. Tall, narrow containers need a layer of bricks or stones at the bottom so they don't tip over. The ideal pot should be just a bit bigger than your plant's rootball.

Mediterranean plants like thyme need excellent drainage. Plants that handle drought do really well in containers, which makes sense with our warming climate. Plants in containers need more water and food than those in the ground because they have less compost to keep them going.

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Managing Garden Maintenance

As the garden wakes up properly in April, it's important to keep up with seasonal maintenance. Staying on top of small tasks now can save you time later and keep your trees, shrubs, and borders looking their best.

Clear Up Garden Clutter

With frosts mostly behind us, you can now remove winter fleece, tree wraps, and temporary coverings from hardy trees and shrubs. Check borders and planting areas for old netting, damaged supports, or dislodged mulch that may have shifted over winter.

If you've planted new trees, make sure any stakes and ties are still secure but not too tight — they help keep young trees stable in spring winds and shouldn't be removed too early. A tidy-up now will give your plants space to grow and reduce the risk of rot or damage from leftover materials.

Stay Ahead of Weeds

April is when weeds really take off, especially in open soil and around young hedging or container trees. Get in early with a garden hoe or precision weeder to stop them from stealing nutrients and space.

If you haven’t mulched yet, it’s not too late. A mulch mat or a layer of bark chippings or compost around trees and shrubs will help suppress weeds and retain moisture as days get warmer.

Keep Pests in Check

Warmer weather brings increased pest activity. Look out for aphids, slugs, and caterpillars, especially on soft new growth. Remove pests by hand where possible, or use eco-friendly deterrents like copper rings, companion planting, or diatomaceous earth to ward them off.

Encourage beneficial predators such as birds and ladybirds by maintaining biodiversity — a healthy, varied garden is your best defence against spring pest problems.

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Your April Gardening Round-Up

April is the heart of spring — a time when gardens truly begin to flourish. With longer days and rising temperatures, it’s the perfect month to focus on feeding ornamental trees, tidying borders, and keeping weeds and pests under control as the growing season accelerates.

A successful garden starts with well-timed care and good quality plants. April is ideal for planting spring-flowering trees and shrubs, applying mulch to retain moisture, and giving young plants the nutrition they need to thrive. Supporting wildlife and encouraging pollinators will also bring lasting rewards throughout the season.

By keeping up with seasonal tasks like border maintenance, pest checks, and soil care, your garden will reward you with fresh growth, blossom, and colour that carries into summer. April is all about setting the tone for a healthy, happy garden year.

If you’d like more seasonal advice, updates, and gardening inspiration, sign up to our newsletter and be the first to know about planting tips and new arrivals. Here’s to a blooming great spring!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key gardening tasks for April in the UK?

Essential April gardening tasks include feeding trees and shrubs, sowing hardy crops, harvesting rhubarb and asparagus, planting perennials, enriching soil with compost, and preparing lawns.

What are the best flowering trees to plant in April?

What should I feed my plants in April?

How can I protect my plants from pests naturally?

What trees and shrubs can I plant in April?

How can I help wildlife in my garden this month?