Inside The Garden: April Notes

Well, it’s finally here. The blue skies, the warmer weather and that big yellow thing in the sky! If you’re based in the UK let me remind you – that’s the sun! And you know what that means right? It’s time to REALLY get out in the garden.

Here’s our monthly round-up of what to plant, prune, and potter with in April. We’re covering gardening jobs, sowing tips, the latest products, a fab book we love, and what’s trending across the industry right now.

Gardening Jobs to do in April:

• Plant out sweet peas. Now that the frost risk is mostly gone, tie them into supports and pinch out tips for bushy growth. If you’re in the Midlands or North of the UK and it’s still very cold and frosty first thing in the morning, hang fire. Maybe wait a few more weeks – mid to late April before planting anything out.
• Sow hardy annuals directly into borders. Cosmos, calendula, cornflowers and nigella are all strong choices. I’ve planted mine and have my fingers crossed the slugs stay off.
• Start mowing regularly. Set the blades high for the first few cuts. OMG! What a difference this makes. It makes the garden look instantly tidy.
• Feed roses with a balanced fertiliser and mulch generously to retain moisture. A good slow release one is a good choice to see you right through from spring to summer. I’m trying out a previously gifted Boost by Westland. It comes in liquid and granules form.
• Cut back the last of the winter stems—sedum, ornamental grasses, and anything still lingering. I’ve been DESPERATE to get my brown, dried hydrangea plants cut back, and it has finally happened. I’ll admit I’ve joined a Facebook group called “Hydraengeas in the UK” along with 67.6k other people and it’s brilliant for expert tips. Some people get a bit annoyed with the repetition of “when should I cut them back” question with a curt “look at past posts” but other than that it’s like hydrangeas anonymous for those of us who want to chop, chop, chop as soon as the sun’s out but when it’s still frosty. In other words – ME!

The Veggie Plot: What to Sow Now

Indoors
Tomatoes
Courgettes
Chillies
Basil
Cucumbers

Outdoors 
Beetroot
Carrots
Spinach
Radishes
Spring onions

The cutting garden: Flowers to plant this month

Flowers to Sow Outdoors in April (Direct Sowing)

These hardy annuals can handle cooler temperatures and can be sown straight into prepared beds or borders:

• Cornflowers – Ideal for wildflower borders and cutting gardens.
• Nigella – Easy to grow, self-seeds beautifully.
• Calendula  – Fast-growing, edible petals, great for borders and pots.
• Eschscholzia  – Thrives in poor soil, great for a naturalistic look.
• Larkspur – A lovely alternative to delphinium for earlier colour.
• Gypsophila (Baby’s Breath) – Adds softness to borders and bouquets. Great for shoots

Flowers to Sow Indoors or Under Cover in April

These need a bit more warmth to get going but can be planted out once the risk of frost has passed (usually late May in most areas):

• Zinnias – Brilliant for bold colour and cutting gardens.
• Cosmos – Tall, floaty and fabulous for both borders and shoots.
• Sunflowers – Start them in modules now for transplanting in May.
• Marigolds  – Great for companion planting and edging.
• Petunias – Compact and floriferous, ideal for containers.
• Snapdragons – Long-lasting and reliable for cutting.

Styling Note for Interior Shoots

If you’re sowing with styling in mind, focus on cosmos, amaranthus, and zinnias—they’re tall, photogenic, and last well when cut. Nigella and calendula add a wild-garden look to lifestyle settings and propscapes.

Garden Book of the Month

These aren’t new but they are a great group of books to have under your belt. If you can’t rely on experts from Kew Gardens where can you? Go check them out here in their online shop.

Plant of the Month

Tulips
This is when they are at their peak and like many interior stylists, I just can’t get enough of them when they start to go over. They have a faded elegance about them.

I have to admit, I was never a massive tulip fan but my daughter loves them. Pink tulips are her absolute fave so I’m growing them for the first time this year. They were also a fave with some of my Interior Styling students last month so I grabbed the chance to shoot them. It’s funny how flowers evoke such strong memories. Lillies make me think of my mum as she had them in her wedding bouquet and loves to receive them for special occasions. I’m sure have a flower that pops to mind for special people.

What’s New in Gardening This Month

• RHS Chelsea Flower Show previews are popping up—expect first looks at what the big designers are planning.
• The first ever RHS Urban Show opens this month in Manchester, focused on balcony, rooftop and container gardening. I’m VERY excited to hear which of the interior stylist members is styling one of the big stands there. More on that later in the year.
• Sustainability continues to dominate. Peat-free compost, low-water planting, and recyclable garden tools are increasingly mainstream.

Gardening Trends to Watch

• No-dig gardening is going mainstream. More gardeners are building beds without disturbing the soil. Less mess, more microbial life. I tried this back when I had an allotment. It was a total game changer. You literally clear the ground. Place cardboard over it, then cover that with top soil or compost. It works as a barrier to weeds and you simply plant in the top layer. Whoever came up with that idea – thank you!
• Garden journaling is gaining traction. It’s part therapy, part practical note-taking—ideal for tracking planting successes or prepping content shoots. This one is particularly lovely.

TV Gardening to Watch This Month

As us fair weather gardeners head outside there are more tv programmes for us to catch up on what to do, where to

Gardeners’ World (BBC Two)
Still the best for practical advice, planting ideas and a feel-good Friday night watch. April episodes are full of seasonal jobs and real gardens across the UK.

Your Garden Made Perfect (BBC Two / iPlayer)
Design-led transformations with VR visuals. Great for layout inspiration and materials that are trending with homeowners.

Love Your Garden with Alan Titchmarsh (ITV)
Heartfelt stories and achievable designs that reflect how real people garden. Perfect for styling cues and consumer-friendly trends.

Don’t Miss

National Gardening Week begins 28th april . It’s a great opportunity to pitch garden features, share new shoots, or collaborate with garden centres or eco-friendly brands.

Have a great month. Happy blooming