The flower garden
Prune hardy fuchsias when new growth starts to show, either to healthy buds lower down or hard prune to base
Deadhead tulips and daffoldils, allow foliage to die back naturally
Feed all spring bulbs to ensure a good show next year
The veg patch
Earth up potatoes, covering the shoots with soil as they appear
remove weak or damaged branches of fig tree, cut bare long branches to 5cm to encourage branching but leave branches with pea sized fruit at the tips to mature.
Sow french beans and runner beans directly into soil .
Green gardening
Watch out for aphids on shoot tips and young foliage, and wipe them off or spray with a soap-based solution
Set up an extra compost bin or a worm bin, so you can recycle more green waste from your kitchen and garden
Hang pheromone traps in apple and plum trees from May to July, to control pests
For more freely available ‘April in your garden’ tips from the RHS click here
See also, Scotsdales website for local information about what to do this month
Advice from Sarah Raven for this month in your garden