April in an Irish garden is a symphony of soft greens and hesitant blooms, and it is my favourite month of the year.

The milder weather and the sight of blossoms can give a much-needed lift after a frosty winter and early spring.

However, don’t let a few sunny days lure you into thinking it is safe to plant your tender plants just yet! The garden centres will, of course, have beautiful tender plants in stock, but remember, one sharp frost and it will be curtains for them!

Tender plants need to be protected until at least next month.

For now, you can continue feeding your lawns, hedges, trees, and spring bulbs.

Dividing and planting your perennials is still a very important job in April and, towards the end of the month, you can plant out your dahlia tubers. At that time, you can also begin hardening off plants.

Broad beans, cabbage, beetroot, peas, leaks, and parsnips are just some of the vegetables and root vegetables that I will be sowing this month.

In our garden here in Rothe House, among the flowers currently in bloom are the beautiful fritillaria or ‘Snakes Head’, Honesty, leucojum or ‘Snowflakes’, chionodoxa, muscari, and our tulips.

We also have a new tulip for us this year – the Mary McAleese Tulip! This flower was named in honour of past President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, and I have now planted this beneath a plaque commemorating her visit to officially declare our garden open to the public following its restoration in 2008.

We have also divided some of our regular tulips into pots to bring some more colour into our beautiful courtyards here.

To finish, some other tasks that can be completed this month include:

• Pricking out seedlings and potting rooted cuttings
• Buying and potting plug plants
• Tying in vine rods
• Taking basal cuttings from border perennials
• Keeping weeds under control and keeping an eye out for pests
• Pruning any fig trees

If you would like to book a group tour of our garden with Head Gardener, Mary Pyke, for your club/society simply email reception@rothehouse.com and we would be delighted to arrange it.