The Garden House Tasks for April

Posted:21 April 2026

Now the garden activity really starts to ramp up, and with the weather gradually improving what could be more enjoyable than spending time sprucing up your summer planting plans.

Please bear in mind these tasks are not a comprehensive look at all garden aspects, but relate directly to our monthly work in the Garden House garden, inspiring and teaching the volunteers, students and Friday group gardeners who get stuck in and support the development of this unique Brighton garden.

• Plant out sweet peas, two plants per station.  We are using a vertical grid made of string or you can use hazel sticks or canes
• Continue to plant out hardy annuals such as Cerinthe, Calendula, Nigella, Ammi etc
• Keep on top of pricking out as plants start to develop their first set of leaves – make sure when pricking out the bottom seed leaves are resting on the compost – this prevents them from being leggy
• Prune your evergreen shrubs now and cut Salix and Cornus down low to give you winter colour next year
• Remove faded flowers from Narcissus and Tulips – watch out for tulip fire, if you see this then make sure you throw the bulbs away and do not replant them in the garden!
• Tender plants can be moved outside, but be prepared to cover them as the evening and night time temperatures can suddenly drop
• Pot on tomatoes to grow on before planting into their final position in May
• Cut back lavender, curry plants and similar semi-shrubs now to a low set of buds – this will stop the plants from becoming leggy (make sure you don’t cut into the old wood)
• Continue to hoe off annual weeds such as Cardamine hirsuta (hairy bittercress), Galium aparine, (goosegrass) and look out for bindweed which will be out in full force soon – keep pulling it up as this will weaken it
• Sow basil – and also try water cuttings.  Buy a large pot from the supermarket, take cuttings and root out in water – pinch out the growing tip to help it bush out.  Once rooted plant out into the greenhouse or indoors on the window sill (basil hates cold and wet)
• Sow herbs such as coriander, dill and fennel – we buy our seeds from an Asian supermarket and sow them in polystyrene boxes ( the ones that contain herbs at the greengrocer) you can just scatter them on top to get a good harvest
• Plant evergreen trees and shrubs – our local B&Q has some great shrubs for sale at very reasonable prices

It’s a busy time keeping up with the mass of growth, but wonderful to look ahead to your best late spring / early summer garden!