The Cutting Garden : April 2025

The April cutting gardens places our feet firmly in spring. The garden expands daily, giving tantalising glimpses of this years flowers. I eagerly await the first tulips blooming and seeing how the over wintered seedlings fare now they have been planted out.

Much like March there is a pick and mix of jobs to be getting on with. All the seeds can be started. With the frosts becoming fewer, more and more flowers can be planted out. However, with the warmer weather and longer days weeds can over take. I spent yesterday digging out some very abundant sorrel. I have replaced it all with a bumper crop of Nigella Persian Jewels – I’m hoping it’ll take over a rough spot and self seed forever more! Wishful thinking perhaps?!

I am going to get myself a new weeding tool, I lost my last one. These are amazing for getting rid of small top weeds. I still like to use my one weed out, one plant in rule to fill beds needing some work. Annual flowers are great for this.

The Easter holidays fill two weeks of April. Whilst we’re all in need a breather from the school routine, it does pause things at a bumper time. I plan the garden around holidays but have managed to negotiate a day of help from my children for getting dahlia tubers potted up. When my children we much younger and happy to spend time with me in the garden. Dahlia Day was always a favourite, we’d roll into the garden in our pyjamas after breakfast and get to work until lunch. We’d all be filthy but happy. From that time –  I always say when you can garden in your pyjamas, its time to pot up your dahlias!

I know it’s not strictly a garden job but don’t forget to bring your blooms into enjoy. You don’t need to go mad but a few stems will bring so much happiness. Every time I go to the allotment I snip myself a few stems of blossom as a treat. It totally baffles the older gents but I love having fresh flowers inside and out! These posts might give you some inspiration Creating with Colourful Bud Vases and Simple Short Stem Arrangement.

I feel this has been a whirlwind post but all you need to remember this month is seeds, weeds and dahlia tubers!