Gardening in April: all tasks at a glance

Even if April does what it wants - you shouldn't neglect the garden despite the changeable weather. We show what gardening work should be done in April.

In April the garden blooms and countless animals in the air and on land crawl out of their winter hiding places. The garden comes to life - and gardening is slowly picking up again. Now it is time to make the final preparations for the warm season, and there is also a lot to do in the vegetable patch. We have put together the best gardening tips for April.

The vegetable garden in April

If the vegetable garden was often only sparsely planted in winter, it slowly becomes really full again in April: numerous vegetable plants need to be sown or replanted. In addition, of course, the newcomers also need enough care to grow and thrive - a lot of work that awaits us in the bed in April. So that you don't lose track, we have summarized the most important gardening tasks for you in April.

What can you sow in April?

In April you can sow a large number of vegetables. While heat-loving plants like French beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), Melon (Cucumis melo) or zucchini (Cucurbita pepo subsp. pepo) prefer to stay in the sheltered house or be sown in the warming cold frame, more robust vegetables such as peas (Pisum sativum), Carrots (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) or spinach (Spinacia oleracea) can be planted directly in the bed. In our little one Sowing calendar we have summarized for you which vegetables can be sown in April.

What can you sow in April?

Sowing on the windowsill or in the cold frame / greenhouse: French beans, fennel, cucumber, kohlrabi, herbs, pumpkin, corn, melon, Brussels sprouts, salads, runner beans, pointed cabbage, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, corn

Sowing directly into the bed: Leaf salads, broccoli, peas, spring onions, turnip, Swiss chard, carrots, palm kale, parsley root, radish, beetroot, Brussels sprouts, spinach, pointed cabbage, root parsley

Tip: Use a high-quality seed soil like our peat-free and sustainable one for planting Plantura organic herb & seed compost. This means that your young plants are optimally taken care of.

What can you plant in April

Anyone who was already busy in February and March can now slowly harvest the first fruits of their labor: Plants pulled from the windowsill, including various salads, Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris) but also cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis), can slowly find their way out in April. However, not all the early plants are ready for the big move in April: In the case of frost-sensitive plants such as tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) and eggplant (Solanum melongena) you should wait until the ice saints in May before planting them out. You can apply for this from the beginning of April Planting the first potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) do. However, the temperature of the soil should be at least 7 ° C for sticking the seed potatoes.

What to plant in April Cauliflower, fennel, potatoes, kohlrabi, Swiss chard, salads, chives, pointed cabbage, onions

Tip: Some plants grown very early, such as tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), aubergine (Solanum melongena), paprika (Capsicum) or Andean berry (Physalis peruviana) should only be planted after the ice saints in May. So that they are then not exposed to a temperature shock, you should start hardening the plants as early as March. Put the plants outside on days when the temperature does not fall below 8 ° C. However, be aware of the risk of sunburn.

Seasonal vegetables in April

A lot can be harvested in April: Fresh leaf salads (Lactuca sativa var. crispa), delicious asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) and healthy spinach (Spinacia oleracea) come freshly harvested from the garden directly into our kitchen. In the greenhouse, on the other hand, the first radishes are waiting (Raphanus sativus var. sativus) and Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris) on their harvest. Even if you do not have your own garden, it is advisable to make sure that seasonal vegetables to buy. In this way you can protect the climate and the environment.

Which vegetables can be harvested in April?

Outdoor harvest: Leaf lettuce, chicory, leek, asparagus, spinach

Harvest in the greenhouse: Lamb's lettuce, kohlrabi, celeriac, Swiss chard, radishes

More gardening work in the vegetable patch

Of course, gardening in April is not just about harvesting and sowing vegetables. Here we have summarized other important gardening work in the vegetable patch for the garden month of April for you:

Prepare the raised bed: If you haven't already done so in March, April will be the time to bring your raised bed up to scratch. Not only newly created raised beds have to be filled now - it is also useful for older raised beds Compensate for the difference in height caused by the subsidence of the soil with new substrate - a good vegetable soil is ideal for this, like our Plantura organic tomato & vegetable soil.

Tip: After about five to seven years, the entire substrate of the raised bed should be replaced.

Moving and spreading compost: The compost that you have not yet applied in autumn can now be spread over your beds. Compost prepared over the winter can now be turned over in April.

Prick tomatoes: Those who prefer tomatoes on the windowsill should Prick tomatoesas soon as they have developed the first real leaves. With a pricking stick or a knitting needle, the plants can be carefully lifted out of the ground and then placed in their own pots.

The ornamental garden in April

The ornamental garden is a real joy in April: The numerous flowers that bloom in April enchant us with their beguiling scent and their engaging play of colors. In order for this beauty to endure, of course, gardening should not be left behind in April either. From sowing to fertilization, there is also a lot to do in the ornamental garden at this time of the year.

What blooms in April

The flowering period really started in April at the latest. The first Early bloomer have now said goodbye again. But now tulips are ringing (Tulipa), Hyacinths (Hyacinthus) and daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) Easter. Also upholstery phlox (Phlox subulata), Forget Me Not (Myosotis) and blue pillows (Aubrieta) are now showing their best behavior in April. The plants that bloom in April also include numerous opulent flowering shrubs and woody plants such as the wisteria (Wisteria) or the bridal spears (Spiraea arguta).

What flowers bloom in April

Flowers and perennials: Anemones, blue pillows, daisies, hyacinths, irises, crocuses, dandelions, daffodils, daffodils, upholstered phlox, primroses, chess flowers, tulips, forget-me-nots

Shrubs and trees: Wisteria, bridal spar, forsythia, bell hazel, judas tree, almond tree, Tulip tree, Tulip magnolia, ornamental cherry

What flowers can be planted in April

When the ornamental garden shines in colorful blooms in April, you could almost forget that the time has come for sowing and planting new residents in the garden. But if you want to enjoy flowering beds in summer and autumn, you should use April for gardening: Numerous annual summer flowers must be sown in April so that they can show their colorful blooms over the course of the year can. But some perennials also have to be planted in April so that they can develop their full beauty over the course of the year.

Tip: If you have the Bees in your garden If you want to do a favor this year, you can get ours right now Plantura bee pasture sow in the field. The seed mix contains a wide variety of bee-friendly plants and will turn your garden into a true bee paradise.

What can be planted in the ornamental garden in April

Sowing in the bed: Annual summer flowers, nasturtiums, cornflower, snapdragons, poppies, morning glory, marigold, gypsophila, summer asters, sunflowers, marigolds

Plants in the bed: Dahlias, garden freesia, gladioli, lilies, montbretias, nerines, giant hyacinths, roses, summer hyacinths, tiger flowers, gypsy flowers

Prefer on the windowsill / in the greenhouse: Columbine, aster, dahlias, loyal to men, sunflower

Further work in the ornamental garden

Planting evergreen shrubs: Evergreen plants such as rhododendron (rhododendron), Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) or cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) are best planted between March and April. Make sure you loosen the soil thoroughly before planting and remove stones and weeds. In the case of rhododendrons, attention must also be paid to the pH value - as a bog bed plant it only thrives optimally on acidic soil. For this reason, we recommend the garden soil with a special soil, for example ours Plantura organic acidic soil, to improve.

Thinning out spring bloomers: Many spring flowering shrubs like forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia) have already faded from mid-April. So that the plants can shine in full splendor next year too, they should be thinned out now: Remove the oldest branches near the ground - this way the young shoots have a better chance of growing in the next year to develop.

Prepare for Easter: Most of the years Easter falls in April - so it's high time to decorate the garden with brightly painted Easter eggs. For particularly beautiful eggs in the Easter basket, you can keep an eye out for shapely leaves in the garden. With a piece of old pantyhose firmly attached to a hard-boiled egg and then dipped in paint, they leave behind Leaves decorative imprints on the egg. For a festive ambience in the room, you can use matching flowering indoor plants To fall back on. Tried and tested are, for example, the Easter cactus (Hatiora x graeseri) or the Christ thorn (Euphorbia milii). You can also cut particularly beautiful branches in the garden and bring spring into your home.

The orchard in April

It is always particularly quiet in the orchard over the winter. In April, the gardening season really starts again here. Not only do numerous fruit trees bloom like apples (Malus) and pear (Pyrus), it can even be harvested. But also the care of the orchard should not be neglected in April.

Fertilize fruit trees: Both fruit trees and berry bushes look forward to an extra helping of nutrients at the beginning of the growing season. Fertilizing with compost in spring has proven its worth: around three liters are incorporated per square meter and provide the plants with the nutrients they need for flowering and fruiting. As an alternative to compost, you can also use a universal fertilizer with a long-term effect, such as ours Plantura organic universal fertilizer, make excellent use of it.

Plant strawberries: Monthly, climbing and frigo strawberries, in contrast to the well-known, single-bearing summer strawberries, are not planted between July and August, but in April or early May. These cultivated forms of strawberries are particularly popular because they bear fruit not just once but throughout the summer.

Cut back raspberries: The right one Cut in raspberries (Rubus idaeus) is extremely important to bring in the richest possible harvest. With two-timer raspberries, every two-year shoots are therefore cut close to the ground in April. In the case of summer raspberries, on the other hand, the new shoots need to be thinned out in April: only about ten shoots should remain per running meter.

Planting quinces: Young quinces (Cydonia oblonga) are significantly more susceptible to frost than other fruit trees. For this reason, new quince trees are ideally not planted in autumn, but only in April, when the risk of heavy frosts is significantly lower.

Harvest rhubarb: From the end of April the time has finally come - the first tender stalks of the rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) are ready for harvest. No matter how aromatic the rhubarb tastes, you shouldn't use the plant excessively Harvesting: About two thirds of the stems should remain standing so that the plant does not become too much is weakened.

The lawn in April

In April the growing season is back in full swing. This also means that lawn care must not be neglected. While you could lean back comfortably in winter, mowing the lawn is now back to typical gardening work in April. If you haven't already done lawn care in March, now is the time.

Fight moss growth: Mosses often spread more and more in the garden over the winter. Scarifying can help with matted and mossy lawns and aerates the sward - but that helps Scarifying alone does not necessarily mean and should not be used too often, as it will also remove the sward stressed. Equally important in combating Moss in the lawn is an adapted fertilization. Also the application of ours Plantura organic soil activator has an effect here, because it improves the soil structure and thus makes the grasses more competitive against wild herbs and mosses.

Fertilize the lawn: With the first Fertilize the lawn in spring the grass is supplied with important nutrients that it needs for healthy growth. Mainly organic fertilizers like ours Plantura organic lawn fertilizer, not only give your lawn a fresh green, but are also harmless to gardeners and pets.

Close gaps: Unfortunately, in winter it happens again and again that the lawn dies in some areas - unsightly, bare gaps remain. In the case of individual bald spots, however, you don't have to re-sow the entire lawn: with the Plantura lawn repair you can close small gaps in the lawn quickly and reliably.

Support garden animals and insects in April

Life is slowly returning to the garden after winter. Numerous insects, amphibians and birds can now be observed again. There are a number of things you can do in April to increase the biodiversity in your garden.

Create flower strips: Flower strips with a high proportion of native plants are ideal as a source of food for hungry beneficial insects, because Due to their diversity and the different flowering times of the plants, they offer sufficient nutrition over a longer period of time Period. Flowering mixtures with many different plants, such as ours, are particularly suitable for creating a flower strip Plantura bee pasture: This is not only a delightful sight for the eyes, but also food for hungry insects.

Set up bird bath: Birds are welcome guests to most gardeners. In addition to offering food, the feathered animals can also be ideally supported with fresh water: the installation of a Bird bath in the garden helps birds in their search for water to drink and bathe and will soon develop into a real bird magnet.

Postpone spring cleaning: In spring, many are gripped by the thirst for action and the desire to restore order and discipline in the garden. But you shouldn't be too precise: rotten wood, piles of leaves or sticks are used by amphibians such as common toads (Bufo bufo) as a welcome hiding place. So do not hesitate to allow a "wild corner" in the garden.

The balcony garden in April

What more stimulates the desire for spring than colorful flowers? Even balcony gardeners no longer have to do without it: Many flowering balcony plants ensure a good mood in April and turn our window sills into real eye-catchers. However, of course, the balcony planting also needs a little care and attention in April in order to show itself from its most beautiful side.

Growing potatoes: Potatoes on the balcony? Yes, it actually works: if you don't have your own garden, you can do it very easily Grow potatoes in the pot. A little less exotic, but just as tasty, are the pick salads and radishes, which can be sown directly in the balcony box in April. Can be just as good Strawberries on the balcony planting: In April these can move from their plastic pots into the balcony boxes or the hanging baskets.

Harden potted plants: Cool, overwintered container plants such as the oleander (Nerium oleander) are allowed to slowly return to the balcony in April, provided that there is no longer any permafrost. So that the potted plants can slowly get used to their new surroundings again, they should initially be partially shaded and protected.

Planting window boxes: Now in April you can prepare your balcony plants. If it is already quite warm, some balcony plants can be planted out as early as April - these include fuchsias (Fuchsia), Begonias (Begonia) and the hard-working Lieschen (Impatiens walleriana). But the ice saints are not over yet and a late frost can cause severe damage to the plants. On the other hand, play it safe with the balcony flowers in April with pansies (Violaceae), Horned violets (Viola cornuta) and numerous early bloomers such as daffodils and hyacinths.

Properly care for indoor plants in April

House plants are an asset to every household all year round. So that the green roommates feel comfortable with us, it is important to give them the necessary care in April as well.

Fertilize indoor azaleas: After flowering, azaleas need (rhododendron) a good helping of nutrients. That's why mid-April is the right time for them Fertilizing the azaleas came. A fertilizer with a long-term effect is particularly ideal for potted plants, as it continuously supplies the plants with nutrients.

Don't forget to prune: Some houseplants such as the colored nettle (Coleus scutellarioides), the shrub begonia (Begonia maculata) and the room linden tree (Sparmannia africana) like to grow quite sparse. So that they still fit well in the apartment, the plants can be pruned vigorously from the beginning of April. For hibiscus (Hibiscus) and passion flower (Passiflora), however, pruning can increase the willingness to flower, as they bloom abundantly, especially on the young shoots.

Break for the cyclamen: The cyclamen (Cyclamen) often takes a blooming break indoors from April. During this time, the plant needs significantly less water - you should do that Watering the cyclamen consider. In addition, the plant enjoys a sunny, not too warm place in the house during its rest break.

April is slowly coming to an end? You can find out what work is due in the next month in our article on Gardening in May.