April 2024

Hello Gardeners,

After a hiatus with the gardening blogs, they are back from now starting with April.

Autumn is my favourite season, other then spring of course. The mornings are cool with such beautiful days.

However, with the intermittent watering and the chaning soil moisture can cause plants to have adverse reactions. Such as blossom end rot in tomatoes and splitting in citrus after a period of dry and then a big soak.

The best way to counter this is to have a wander around your garden weekly and touch the soil to check moisture levels.

This can be considered a mindful exercise with therapeutic benefits.

There are vast numbers of various bug and leave infestations in lawns, cliveas and trees. It is important to act quickly to eradicate the creatures before your plant is destroyed. The first step is to give the plant a good soak with a sprinkler while the soil is still warm and fertilise the plant. I recommend a using a liquid fertiliser, this will get to the plant via root uptake. Then water in again. This will set the plant up for optimum health for next spring. Next, you need to combat the bug itself by using a substance that is specific for the infestation you have.

April Gardening Jobs:

Trim back summer flowering shrubs such as gardenia, murraya and escallonia. Follow up with a liquid fertiliser.

Pot up some hanging baskets with winter flowering annuals such as dianthus, polyanthus, primula, wallflowers and pansies.

Compost bins need to be turned and emptied in readiness to receive all the autumn bounty. Deciduous leaves are beginning to turn and will soon be falling to begin the new compost.

I love the thought of brassicas such as Brussel sprouts, caulis and cabbages going into the veggie patch. Future roasts to dream about.

April is time to organise a frost-free protection zone to move your plants that are frost sensitive.

Now is a great time pot on indoor plants into a slightly bigger pot with some fresh potting mix.

Dead head roses as their autumn flush wanes. Resist the urge to prune severely until late winter. Rugrosa or heritage roses will be beginning to form rose hips to enjoy throughout winter.

Sow Flowers Seeds and Seedlings In Your Patch

Alyssum, Amaranthus, Aquilegia, Bellis Perennis, Calendula, Californian Poppy, Carnation, Cineraria, Coleus, Dianthus, Forget-Me-Not, Foxglove, Gypsophila, Hollyhock, Impatiens, Linaria, Livingstone Daisy, Lobelia, Marigold, Nigella, Pansy, Poppy, Primula, Salvia, Snapdragon, Stock, Sunflower, Sweet William, Viola, Virginia Stock, Wallflower.

Sow Vegetable Seeds and Seedlings In Your Patch

Asian Greens, Beetroot, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Chives, Coriander, Garlic, Kale, Kolrabi, Leek, Lettuce, Parsley, Radish, Rocket, Silver beet, Spring Onion, Swede, Turnip.

Have you had any success in the garden this season? I would love to hear.

Lynda

December 2022