April is here, and with it comes longer days, warmer temperatures, and the perfect opportunity to get stuck into your garden! Whether you're a seasoned green-fingered pro or a budding beginner, there are plenty of jobs to do this month to keep your outdoor spaces looking their best. At Hilltop Garden Centre, we've got everything you need to make April a blooming success – from plants and compost to expert advice. So, pop in to our garden centre in Clacton and let us help you get started!
Plant Pieris - it's our Plant of the Month!
If you're looking to add year-round interest to your garden, you can't go wrong with Pieris. This attractive evergreen shrub thrives in acidic soil and produces a stunning display of jewel-like flowers in early spring, which bees absolutely love. Its young leaves emerge in eye-catching shades of bronze or red before maturing to a rich, glossy green.
For the best results, plant your Pieris in a shaded shrub border or woodland area using Rocket Gro ericaceous compost to provide the right acidic environment. Once planted, water thoroughly and apply an ericaceous liquid feed during the summer months to keep your Pieris healthy and full of blooms. With a little care, this show-stopper will bring colour and texture to your garden year after year.
Plant Perennials for Colourful Borders
April is the perfect time to plant perennials and fill your borders with beautiful blooms that return year after year. Some of our favourites include:
- Delphiniums: With their tall, striking spires of blue, pink, or white flowers, these are a cottage garden classic.
- Lupins: Loved for their vibrant, vertical flowers that come in a rainbow of shades.
- Aquilegia: Also known as columbines, these delicate, nodding flowers are perfect for a shady spot.
- Foxgloves: A bee-friendly favourite with tall spikes of bell-shaped blooms.
Prepare your soil by digging in Rocket Gro multi-purpose compost for added nutrients - it's on special offer at Hilltop this month where you can get two 50 litre bags for just £12. Plant your perennials in well-draining soil, and water them in well to help them establish. As they grow, keep an eye out for slugs and snails, which love tender new shoots.
It's Time to Plant Patio Plants
Fancy a splash of colour on your patio? April is the time to start planting patio plants like marigolds, sweet williams, and fuchsias. These vibrant blooms are perfect for pots, containers, or hanging baskets and add lovely colour to any outdoor space, however small.
When planting patio plants, use a high-quality compost like our Rocket Gro peat-free multi-purpose compost for the best results. Remember, April nights can still be chilly, so keep an eye on the weather forecast. If frost is expected, move your pots to a sheltered area or cover them with horticultural fleece to protect tender plants from damage.
If you don't have time for planting, we have a range of ready-planted options available in-store - all planted up in beautiful pots by our expert team.
Get Growing: Tomatoes, Peppers, and Veggies
April is the perfect month to start growing tomatoes, peppers, and other delicious vegetables to enjoy for lunch or dinner throughout the year. At Hilltop Garden Centre, we've just had a fresh delivery of yellow sweet peppers, cayenne chilli peppers, tumbling tom tomatoes, and red sweet pepper plants to get you started.
For best results, plant your tomatoes and peppers in Lexington Tomorite planters, which are ideal for supporting their root systems. Feed them regularly with Tomorite tomato feed (available this month at £6.99 or 2 for £12) to encourage healthy growth and an abundant harvest. Remember to protect young plants from late frosts by bringing them indoors or covering them with fleece at night.
Other vegetable plants, such as cucumbers and salad greens, will start arriving in-store throughout April, so pop in every week to see what we have and get your vegetable garden growing!
Garden Maintenance Tips for April
- Feed and Mulch: Give your plants a spring boost by feeding them with a balanced fertiliser like Growmore or Bonemeal, both available in-store. Apply mulch around the base of shrubs and perennials to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
- Weed Control: Weeds love the warming soil, so stay on top of them by regularly hoeing or hand-pulling. Mulching can also help reduce weed growth.
- Prune Spring-Flowering Shrubs: Once spring-flowering shrubs like forsythia and flowering currant have finished blooming, prune them back to maintain their shape and encourage new growth.
- Lawn Care: April is the time to give your lawn a little TLC. First, mow the lawn. Then, use a spring tine rack to remove any thatch (dead matted grass). Next, aerate your lawn - you can do this by simply sticking a garden fork into the ground to a depth of around 15cm, every 30cm or so across the entire area. Feed with a spring lawn fertiliser to encourage lush, green growth, and then you can tackle bare patches (after a few days) by overseeding with grass seed mixed with lawn top dressing. Water well and continue to water for 2-3 days if it doesn't rain.
- Support Climbing Plants: Install supports for climbing plants like clematis and sweet peas now, while growth is still manageable. This helps prevent damage later in the season.
Encourage Wildlife – Make Your Garden a Haven
At Hilltop Garden Centre, we love seeing gardens buzzing with life, and April is a key time to support local wildlife. Hang up bird feeders to provide essential food during the breeding season and consider planting nectar-rich flowers like lavender, foxglove, and camassias to attract bees and butterflies.
A small wildlife pond or even a shallow water dish can be a lifesaver for thirsty creatures. You’ll be amazed at the variety of birds, insects, and small mammals that will visit when you provide food, water, and shelter.
Visit Hilltop Garden Centre This April
Whether you're refreshing your borders, starting a vegetable patch, or simply enjoying the beauty of spring, we've got everything you need to make April's gardening jobs a pleasure. Come and visit us at Hilltop Garden Centre on Clacton Road, Weeley, where you'll find expert gardening advice from Carmel, fantastic offers, and a warm welcome from our friendly team. We can't wait to see you!
