What to Do in the Garden in April (UK)

Sow and plant

• Sow a seedbed of brassicas to provide transplants of sprouting broccoli, cauliflowers and cabbages for planting out in June or July.
• Transplant broad beans raised in pots.
• Plant onion, shallot and garlic sets, Jerusalem artichoke tubers, and asparagus crowns.
• Sow hardy annuals in pots or modules for garden colour; in mild areas with light soil, sow directly outside.

Prune and tidy

• Put supports in place for herbaceous perennials before they get too large.
• Keep on top of weeds now growth has accelerated — little and often.

Lawn and general care

• Sow a new lawn or re-seed dead patches from mid-April to early May; if the soil is very wet or cold, delay until the weather improves or germination will be poor.
• Avoid walking on or mowing newly sown grass until it has reached 5–8cm tall.

Protection

• Protect early outdoor sowings with cloches or re-used fleece.
• Where possible, protect plum and pear flowers from frost while still allowing insects access for pollination.

Regional adjustment

The RHS advises direct outdoor sowing of hardy annuals in April only in mild areas with light soil, and ties lawn sowing to soil conditions rather than dates. Milder southern and western gardens can push ahead; colder northern gardens should expect these jobs to run later and rely more on module sowing and protection.

Sources

Reviewed 2026-07-18. We cite university Extension, government, and established horticultural sources — and never invent pesticide rates or dangerous treatments.

• RHS — Gardening in April: jobs to do this month — April monthly jobs including hardy annual sowing, perennial supports, and blossom frost protection.
• RHS — Grow Your Own: jobs to do in April — Sow a brassica seedbed for June/July transplants; transplant broad beans; plant onion, shallot and garlic sets, Jerusalem artichokes and asparagus crowns; protect early sowings with cloches or fleece.
• RHS — Monthly gardening jobs: April lawns — Sow or re-seed lawns mid-April to early May, delay in cold wet soil, and keep off new grass until it reaches 5–8cm.

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