When it comes to gardening tips, April is where things really start to matter. It’s the second full month of spring and as every seasoned gardener knows, this is when things start to speed up. Plants are waking up, the soil is warming and your garden begins demanding attention in every corner.
For experienced gardeners, this is the time to fine-tune rather than start from scratch. You already have your compost going, your seed trays are filling up and the pruning shears have seen action. Nevertheless, April is also about working smarter and making small decisions that lead to bigger yields and healthier plants down the line.
Because of this, we’ve put together a set of gardening tips that go beyond the basics. These aren’t your typical “remember to water” reminders but more actionable tips. Let’s dig in.
Use the ‘halo effect’ for tomatoes
When planting out tomatoes, try placing a ring of cardboard (or a plant halo if you have one) around the base of the plant. Or if you want a more long-lasting and tidy solution, you can also use our Coco Fibre Mulch Mats. This solution keeps the lower leaves from touching the soil, which is often teeming with fungal spores and pathogens. It also helps direct water to the root zone, which tomatoes love. A smart addition to your toolkit of gardening tips.
Deter slugs with copper rings
Slugs are a persistent nuisance in spring, especially around young leafy plants like lettuces and brassicas. But instead of reaching for slug pellets (even organic ones), consider copper. Copper reacts with the mucus in a slug’s body, giving them a mild electric shock that deters them from crossing the barrier.
Place copper tape around pots or form rings at the base of plants in open beds. It’s a sustainable, long-term solution that protects your crops without harming garden wildlife. Or, if you’d like a more straightforward solution, you can use our Nemaslug; a natural remedy to eliminate slugs without harming other wildlife, pets or children.
Boost soil health with Biochar
Biochar is one of those ancient practices making a serious comeback in sustainable gardening. If added in spring, it gives your beds a head start.
It acts like a sponge – it soaks up the nutrients and slowly releases them as plants need it. It also helps balance pH and encourages healthy root development. A little goes a long way and over time it transforms the quality of your soil.
Make a natural pest spray
If you’re looking to stay pesticide-free (but we also encourage you to look at our list of pest control products), a homemade spray made from garlic and chilli can be surprisingly effective.
Blend a couple of cloves of garlic and a chilli or two with water, let it steep overnight, then strain and spray on foliage. This mix repels aphids, caterpillars and other soft-bodied pests, without harming pollinators. Garlic’s sulphur compounds act as a natural repellent, while the capsaicin in chilli irritates invaders. Apply early in the morning or late evening to avoid scorching leaves. If that’s too much bother, you could also use our Neem Oil and mix it with warm water to spray and deter aphids.
Feed strawberries with seaweed
April is when strawberries begin putting on leafy growth and preparing to flower. Feeding them now with a high-potassium fertiliser like seaweed – take a look at our Seaweed Granules – encourages stronger root systems, better flowering and sweeter, juicier fruit. Seaweed feed also adds valuable trace minerals and helps the plant cope with stress from variable spring weather. Apply every two weeks to keep your strawberries thriving.
Keep birds away without nets
Birds can be a blessing in the garden, but not when they’re stealing your strawberries or pecking at seedlings.
Instead of using netting (which can trap small animals and hinder pollinators), try hanging old CDs, pie tins or reflective tape. The flashes of light and movement act as a visual deterrent. Move them around every week or so to stop birds from getting used to them. It’s a low-cost, no-fuss solution that won’t interfere with airflow or access – one of those clever gardening tips that saves a lot of hassle.
Improve sandy soil with zeolite
If you’re working with sandy or fast-draining soil, you’ll know the challenge of water and nutrients disappearing before roots can use them.
Zeolite is a naturally occurring mineral that can be mixed into soil to hold onto moisture and nutrients while still allowing good drainage. It’s especially useful for raised beds or no-dig systems in lighter soils. Just mix a handful into planting holes or blend into compost before top-dressing.
Plant peonies at the right depth
Peonies are fussy bloomers. One of the most common mistakes we see is planting them too deep. If the crown (where the shoots emerge) is buried more than 2–3cm below the soil surface, the plant may never flower.
When planting in spring or dividing older clumps, be mindful of the depth – shallow is best. Give them sun, good drainage – and a bit of patience – and they’ll reward you year after year.
Test if your lawn is ready to mow
Mowing too early – especially on wet ground – can compact the soil and damage grass roots. A simple test: walk on the grass and watch how it springs back. If the blades stay flattened or the soil feels squishy underfoot, wait a bit longer. Your lawn will thank you with a healthier, greener season ahead.
Divide crowded spring bulbs
If your daffodils or tulips are looking a little sparse or clumped tightly together, it might be time to lift and divide. Over time, bulbs can multiply underground and become overcrowded, which reduces flowering.
Once the foliage has started to die back (but before it disappears completely), carefully lift the bulbs, separate them and replant with a bit of breathing room. You’ll get a much better display next year and it’s a good excuse to redesign that flowerbed.
Have These Gardening Tips Helped?
We hope these gardening tips help you get even more joy, and productivity, from your April weekends. And if you have a tried-and-tested trick of your own, share it with us! We’re always learning, just like our gardens.
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