How to garden in April
Everything your garden needs as April begins Plus: an EASY planting design for butterflies and bees and an excellent discount
It’s nearly April… and time to think ahead
Where did March go? We had some wind, we had some rain, we had some sun, we had some warmth, and we had some cold. If you’ve never visited the UK, welcome to our weather. The magnolias don’t seem to mind all this coming and going in the slightest:
And despite the absolute FREEZINGNESS of the last couple of days, the blossom on the trees is providing one of those fleeting opportunities that memories are made of. If you’re feeling a bit fed up, may I suggest that you go and find a flowering tree and stand underneath it. It’ll change everything for a bit:
If you’re landing here at The Gardening Mind for the first time, welcome - I’m delighted you’ve found us. There’s lots going on here - garden design ideas, easy gardening how-tos, plant recommendations, general garden chat, border planting design tips and tricks, Zoom get-togethers and lots more. If you’d like to join in, I’d absolutely love it.
If you’re wondering what we’re all about here, have a look at this. Also, please do head to the Home Page on your browser. There you’ll find over four years’ worth of design articles, plant profiles, garden challenges, short courses, tutorials, and lots and lots more.
If you haven’t quite decided what style of garden you like, or want, but you want to do something to your garden, there are lots of previous posts to read through which I think you’ll find helpful. There’s the Small Garden Design course to follow, Garden Design Case Studies and Garden Dilemmas. There are sections on City Gardens, Planting Design, Country Gardens, and Wildlife Gardening. You’ll find lots of ‘before and after’ examples, too, which I’m hoping will help show you what’s possible.
And here’s what I’d love to know: are you someone who has never gardened before but who is tempted? I would be just so happy if you decided to join us: we’ve had so many complete beginners join us over the last few years, and those beginners have over time sown their first seed, harvested their first salad leaves, and are here now forming this community of garden lovers. I want you to feel confident enough to have a go, maybe even to ask questions, and to feel that amazing feeling you get when you go outside and see your very first seedling poking its way curiously out of the soil. There isn’t anything quite like it.
And one more thing
Paying members have exclusive access to the weekly Show Us Your Plots which is our regular get-together on the Chat, where we share ideas and solve problems throughout the week. This Sunday special goes bananas each week - the amount of inspiring gardens and green spaces along with is absolutely phenomenal!
Back to today
A new month means new what-to-dos and what-not-to-dos in the garden here in The Gardening Mind, and that also means another lovely new illustration which is just so jolly - I hope you like it.
Your feedback on the Common Garden Design Conundrums was brilliant - THANK YOU! I loved reading your thoughts about front gardens, and I’m really glad it inspired you. One member suggested we should have a Minister for Front Gardens. Wouldn’t that be excellent? I went on a safari in Kew and have gathered together a few more for you.
Crocus have given me an amazing pair of offers to hand on to you if you’re an annual paying or founder member: 10% off products and 15% off plants - see below.
The Garden Design Studio waiting list - there’s news below in the PS section for those of you who were disappointed first time round, I’ll be emailing you on Monday. If you’re thinking this might be for you, please do drop me an email with the subject STUDIO.
Even if you don’t get very far down today’s lists, can I just say once again:
SLUGS:
They are out. They are on the march and they are approaching. Read and do.
Before I get going, if you’re heading to a garden centre, you might want to read this first to avoid those trolley dilemmas. And also it will help you avoid the dreaded scenario:
Also, I’ve been editing all your suggestions into our list of recommended seed suppliers in the UK, North America and many other countries - thank you for all your comments and recommendations. If you still would like to add yours, you can do it here:
It’s certainly a bit different to when I was writing this last year, when the sun had been out for a full week and the air had a warmth about it, but I'm not complaining, and neither are the tulips. The good thing about wind and rain after a few days of sunlight is that you are absolutely obliged to go and pick everything that might otherwise go SPLAT:
This scooping-up was just so cheering that I took it with me wherever I went in the house. I do have a study, but more often that not, I end up curled up on a sofa somewhere, laptop balanced on my knees, following the light: