Who knows what April has in store weather-wise? We have had snow in April, hot, dry spells and constant rain, so anything is possible!

This is a good time to plant ornamental grasses in free-draining sandy soil, but if your soil doesn’t sound like this you can add plenty of grit to clay soils to improve the drainage. Alternatively, create a raised bed with bricks or sleepers to aid drainage.

Cascading hummocks of vivid foliage

Some grasses look great in pots like the Japanese Hakonachloa macra ‘Alboaurea’, which is an eye-catching small ornamental grass, forming cascading hummocks of vividly striped bright yellow and green foliage. The narrow leaves keep their colour throughout the season – although it loses its leaves in winter – and often when the plant is grown in full sun it develops a reddish tinge. I prefer it grown in shade to keep the yellowy-green colour.

Now for ponds, it is a good time to reinstall any pumps and filters that have been removed over winter. Thin out oxygenating plants that are ‘taking over’. Divide and repot any marginal plants that have become pot bound and top dress with grit. Don’t add any fertiliser to pond plants, as this will make algae growth worse.

Encourage the grass to grow nice and green

Begin feeding the lawn in April when growth starts again. Use a proprietary spring/summer lawn fertiliser in two applications. It should be high in nitrogen to encourage the grass to grow nice and green. If you need to apply a weedkiller on the grass, do it two or three weeks later when everything is growing strongly.

Don’t mow for two or three days after applying, and if you have mown don’t apply weedkiller for two or three days. Also remember not to compost the clippings, which have been treated with weedkiller. Personally, I don’t mind seeing a lawn containing daisies and other flowers, and life is easier if you learn to love them!

Now is the time to grow sunflowers

If you fancy growing sunflowers with your kids, now is a good time to sow them. Plant them in a 9cm pot and provide a little bottom heat just to get them to germinate. Keep them inside on a windowsill or greenhouse and tie up to a cane as they grow. They can be put outside as soon as the chance of frost has gone and either planted into the garden or re-potted into a 15cm pot.

April is also a good time to plant evergreens, both hedging and specimen shrubs. Plant into well-prepared soil which has had organic matter and a handful of general purpose fertiliser added. Keep watered, especially in dry spells as we move into warmer weather.