5 days Ago By Danielle Kate Wroe
If you’re lucky enough to have an outdoor space, you may want to put on your gardening gloves soon and do some jobs outside while the weather is nice. But you may be confused about where to start and which jobs are actually safe to do at this time of year without ruining things. TikTok gardener @greenfingeredcityboy shared some “gardening jobs you can do in April,” so you may want to prepare for them now.
He told followers : “As the temperatures get warmer in April, it’s a great time to reseed your lawn”. To reseed your lawn effectively, first prepare the soil by removing weeds, moss, and debris, then aerate the lawn and apply grass seed evenly, followed by a light covering of soil or topdressing. He then recommended that you “pot those dahlias up if you haven’t already,” and you can “start sowing your half-hardy annuals”.
Also, “you can plant out summer bulbs like gladioli, and don’t forget your sweet peas”. He said it’s important to “protect your perennials from pesky slugs,” and you can “start using Nemaslug if the temperatures are right”. The keen gardener said to “keep an eye out for buxus caterpillars and get that XenTari”.
For those not in the know, XenTari is an insecticide based on Bacillus thuringiensis, a type of bacteria that internally destroys the stomach of the Box tree caterpillar. He also said that you should “keep on top of rampant weeds, get those patios jet washed, and if it stops raining, paint your fences. “They are perfect for the background of your Instagram photos,” he gushed, especially if they’ve had a much-needed fresh lick of paint.
“Dead head your spring bulbs and do keep an eye on frosts,” he recommended. In the comments, someone asked: “What do you suggest for keeping slugs at bay? I need something pet friendly too”. The TikToker replied: “Nemaslug”.
Another said: “Want to paint my fence your colour but wary of it bleeding through to next door’s fence any tips?” He recommended just using a “brush,” and it would be “fine”..
