IN THE GARDEN
Gardening jobs for April
1. Give your lawn a cut if you’ve not already done so, remembering to lift the blade height for the first few cuts of the season. 2. Weed, weed and weed – time spent weeding now will save you time later in the year. 3. Stake herbaceous perennials to prevent them from falling over neighbouring plants and paths later in the year. 4. Sow hardy annuals such as love-in-a-mist and sunflowers, and continue sowing vegetables such as beetroot and lettuce to give a succession of crops.
5. Plant your second-early and maincrop potatoes.
GIVE IT A GO Why not try your hand at growing alpine plants such as the native Pulsatilla vulgaris (pasque flower, pictured right and below), which can be found in many garden centres the compost to ensure the plants don’t rot from sitting on wet compost. If, though, your alpine ambitions are grander and you wish to build a dedicated rock garden, you should: • Ensure your chosen site is weed free before you start. • Add a base layer of rubble, stone and shingle and top this with a permeable membrane to prevent soil loss. • Add peat-free compost with at least 30% extra grit. • Use a mixture of rock sizes, with larger rocks as feature keystones. • Embed the rocks so at least one-third is buried in the soil and try to make them look as natural as possible.
• Plant up with young plants (these will establish more quickly). • Top dress with gravel or grit. Spring alpine highlights At this time of year, many garden centres have a range of alpines including Narcissus bulbocodium (hoop petticoat daffodil), Sempervivum tectorum (houseleek), Dianthus alpinus (alpine pink), Saxifraga ‘Peter Pan’ and even our native Pulsatilla vulgaris (pasque flower) to entice even the least experienced gardeners to give these delightful spring bloomers a go. If you are looking for a wider range of alpines for your patch, there are several specialist alpine nurseries offering a selection of plants, from varieties and cultivars of Cyclamen coum to plants for
the dedicated alpine enthusiast such as the South American Benthamiella patagonica , which requires alpine house cultivation. If you do develop a penchant for alpines, you could join the Alpine Garden Society, which has numerous local groups and alpine shows throughout the country – and whose members hold a wealth of expert knowledge to share with like- minded gardeners. Whether you’re merely dabbling, or developing an extensive rock garden and alpine collection, they will grow well in the East Anglian climate, fit into the smallest garden and are sure to add charm to your garden throughout the year.
Sally Petitt is head of horticulture at Cambridge University Botanic Garden
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK APRIL 2026 85
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