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Here is our round-up of Earnshaws news, top tips, and ideas for your garden this April!
Our centres are open throughout the Easter bank holiday weekend!
Good Friday: 08:00 – 17:00
Easter Saturday: 08:30 – 17:00
Easter Sunday: 10:00 – 16:00
Easter Monday: 8:30 – 17:00
Good Friday: 08:00 – 17:00
Easter Saturday: 08:30 – 17:00
Easter Sunday: CLOSED
Easter Monday: 8:30 – 17:00
Good Friday: 08:00 – 17:00
Easter Saturday: 08:30 – 17:00
Easter Sunday: CLOSED
Easter Monday: 8:30 – 17:00
Make the most of longer April days by getting your garden ready for plenty of sowing and growing during the warmer months ahead.
Here are some important garden jobs for April:
• Undertake the first garden mow of the year! After a few months of slow growth, April sees the return of this familiar garden ritual. Remember to clear away any dead leaves and debris before doing so. If you can, leave a section of your garden completely alone to benefit your local wildlife!
• Stock up on annual plants. Prepare gorgeous summer displays by purchasing annual plants such as geraniums and petunias that are perfect for summer bedding and vibrant hanging basket displays. Visit our Midgley centre to view our range of flower seeds.
• Get your flower beds ready for growing. Dig a layer of compost or manure into your flower beds in preparation for the growing season.
• Deadhead spring bulbs. Continue to deadhead spring bulbs at the end of their growing period, so that they do not waste energy setting seed.
• Clean your patio and decking. Ensure you can make the most of your outdoor space this spring by cleaning your patio and decking with a stiff broom and hose or a pressure washer.
• Increase watering of houseplants and produce growing in containers, as these dry out more quickly than plants in the ground.
• Plant exotic summer bulbs, such as dahlias, cannas and gladioli.
• Tackle weeds and keep on top of them, as this is when they are trying their best to take over your garden. You’ll find gardening gloves and weed killer on our website and in-store.
• Put plant supports in place where necessary. Hazel plant supports are an environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing option!
• Clean your greenhouse to maximise light levels and ventilate it on warm days to avoid plants becoming stressed due to extreme temperatures.
• Now is the time to sow a new lawn, if necessary, or to take care of established lawns. Mow and edge lawns regularly, keeping the mower blades high to begin with, to allow new grass shoots to develop.
• Begin growing cauliflowers, leeks, onions, parsnips, peas, potatoes and strawberries.
Planters and pots can be a great way to grow fresh produce, especially if you have limited space. Choosing species of fruit and veg that are bred to thrive in smaller spaces is the key to success. Some of the best fruit and veg species for small pots and planters include:
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Blackcurrants
• Gooseberries
• Raspberries
• Early Half Tall Brussels sprouts
• Patio Star courgettes
• Hestia runner beans
• Chantenay carrots
• Arrow parsnips
Click here to view our range of planters.
Could you and your garden be winners in our 2023 Gardens of the Year competition?
BBC Gardeners World Magazine Gardens of the Year 2023 is now open for entries.
They are looking for gardens from all over the UK – no plot is too big or too small. Previous finalists have included flower-filled allotments, tiny urban balconies and sprawling country gardens.
Think your garden has what it takes? Enter here now!
Late April is the perfect time to add mulch. If you didn’t do it in March, then don’t forget to mulch your rose and shrub beds this month. This helps protect against dry spells and reduces future weed build up.
Remember, mulching is more about temperature than the actual time of year. If things warm up before the end of April, then you’re good to mulch.
The start of Spring marks an important time for birds in your garden. Nesting season is well and truly under way, and adult birds are on a quest to find extra food for their fledglings.
You can help by leaving some parts of your garden undisturbed. Leaving some of your hedges and shrubs for birds to nest in, and not trimming them back with the warmer weather.
You can also help by making sure you keep bird feeders well stocked. Youngsters can get involved here too. Make it their job to keep the feeders clean and topped up.
Harrogate Spring Flower Show, is the first major event in the national gardening calendar, welcoming the new growing season with a spectacular celebration of the very best in horticulture.
More info is available here.
Offers guidance for which flowers are best for each season, providing detailed descriptions, simple instructions, and expert tips to help the reader create a beautiful flower garden of their own.
See here to get your hands on this amazing book!
“A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust.”
― Gertrude Jekyll
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