April is an inspiring time in the gardeners calendar. We have plants, you have time, come to our shop, it's now all online! 

Trees are bursting out buds and perennials unfurling young leaves. The months starts with a sprinkling of green bursting in the hedgerows and ends in full bloom with spring bulbs and early perennials taking centre stage!  It's a difficult time our country now faces, and more important than ever to find ways to calm our mind. It's a time for sowing and planting, feeding and pruning, and here are just a few ideas of where to start . . .

1. Buy some new evergreens from the Langthorns website and give any established evergreen shrubs a tidy and prune to maintain shape and healthy growth.  Prune out any dead, weak or diseased  areas to encourage strong, healthy growth.  Evergreen shrubs to prune now include Camellias (after flowering has finished), Laurus nobilis, Buxus sempervirens, Photinia, Ligustrum, Escallonia, Prunus lusitanica and laurocerasus, , Ilex and evergreen Euonymus

    

2. Trim established lavenders, shortening the shoots by an inch or so and taking out older, untidy shoots. Replace old lavender plants bu buying some fresh ones from the Langthorns website:)

   

3. Prune early flowering shrubs, such as Forsythia and Chaenomeles (after flowering is over) to maintain shape and maximum health for the following year. Also buy some fresh ones from the Langthorns website.

4. Order your summer hanging baskets.  For the last 3 years, we have made up individually designed baskets in house.  This year we will have to work differently, and within out limits, but if you would like hanging baskets made and delivered, please do email: louise@langthorns.com with details of what plants and colours you would prefer and we will come back to you with ideas and prices. The earlier you can let us know, the more time we have to get some stunning baskets to you.

        

5.Give existing Roses a good feed using a manure mulch, balanced fertiliser of rose feed. Plant new roses bought from the Langthorns website. Now is the perfect time to plant.  Let us tempt you with our fantastic selection.

6. To ensure a good crop of fruit this year, protect your flowering fruit trees by draping over horticultural fleece in the evening if a frost is forecast.  You can remove the fleece in the morning, once the temperature has risen above freezing.  Mini orchards have become increasingly popular with many varieties grown on dwarf rootstocks, making them suitable for small gardens and even containers.  Check out our delicious range here.

7. Plant Mediterranean evergreen shrubs, such as Rosmarinus, Cistus, Hebe, and Ceanothus now the soil is warmer for better establishment.

    

8. Remove faded flowers from daffodils and tulips and allow foliage to die back naturally.  Lift and divide congested spring bulbs, such as snowdrops as they die back and replant for a larger display next year.

9. Put supports in place for growing perennials, such as Paeonias.  This will ensure that the beautiful but heavy flowers don't flop over and break.

    

10. Give your spring flowering perennials a good tidy, such as Hellebores.  Cut back old leaves to reduce space and pop in some late spring/early summer perennials to ensure interest all year round.

11. Plant out chitted potatoes this month.  Start second early potatoes as the month begins and maincrops half way through the month.

 

Providing frosts have passed, harden off and plant out vegetables that have been grown under cover, such as courgettes, tomatoes, pumpkins, chillies, cucumbers, runner beans and sweetcorn.

12. Plant summer flowering bulbs, such as Gladiolus 

13. Create a striking naturalistic landscape in miniature with Alpines.  Click here to see how.

14.  If you have citrus plants, it's a good time to change fertiliser from a balanced winter mix to a high nitrogen summer feed.

15. Keep containers well watered in spells of dry or windy weather and give them a boost with a slow release granular feed.

16. Now is the time to start hardening off your tender plants.  Put them in a sheltered spot during the day and bring them in at night to help toughen then up. (Keep an eye on the weather for potential late frosts!)

17. Try something new.  Why not create a focal point in your garden by using a plant with striking features. 

Although we have had to shut our gates, we are still here and we want to meet your needs.  Have a good browse of our website, using the plant categories, filters or search features.  Something different may just catch your eye.  We also have products such as veg and bedding plants that are not yet listed on the website, so please do give us a call on: 01371 872611 or email: info@langthorns.com.