‘April showers bring May flowers’ is a phrase you may have heard in the UK, but is there any truth in it, and where does it come from? And what do gardeners need to know to be WeatherReady? We delved into the statistics and had a chat with the Royal Horticultural Society to find out.
Where does ‘April showers bring May flowers’ come from?
Many historians believe the phrase, or a variation of it, dates back to at least the 1500s. English poet Thomas Tusser wrote the phrase, “Sweet April showers do bring spring May flowers,” in 1557 and variations on that are still used today.
Do April showers really bring May flowers?
The saying might lead you to believe that April is a particularly wet month in the UK, but that’s not the case according to the Met Office’s long-term average statistics.
According to Met Office HadUK Gridded data, April is, on average, one of the driest calendar months in the UK, with an average of 71.7mm of rain. To put that in perspective, December is typically the wettest month for the UK, with 127.2mm of rain.
The averages paint a dry picture of April’s typical conditions. The Royal Horticultural Society’s Chief Horticulturalist Guy Barter highlighted how important the month’s weather can be for many gardeners and growers.
He said: “April showers can indeed bring May flowers, but it is quite common for cold, dry weather with east winds in southern and eastern regions inhibiting plant growth. However, some warm and showery days are exactly what gardeners need in April (and May and June).”
“We need dry soil to sow and plant particularly if March has been wet (as in 2024). This year March has been dry which is ideal for early establishment and is key for the best crops of flowers, potatoes, veg and fruit. Mauling seeds in during a wet April or in a warm dry May or June is best avoided leading to repeated reseeding, replacing and watering which are undesirable.”
Like many months April’s weather is subject to a significant amount of natural variability, which can often leave gardeners scratching their heads.
The wettest April since 1836 was in 2012, when 128.2mm of rain fell, a figure more comparable with a winter month. In contrast, just 11.2mm of rain fell in the driest April in 1842. It’s these possible contrasts and variations which means it’s a crucial time of the year for the weather forecast.
Guy explained: “Gardeners are fixed to weather forecasts in April to be ready to water, plant and sow at optimum times, to cover plants with fleece or fabric against frost, and to avoid excess heat levels in their greenhouses by adding shading and increasing ventilation.
“Despite what most people hope for, to gardeners, very dry weather in May-September is a nuisance, as the heat and light leads to loss of water by evapotranspiration which is shown by plants wilting, browning, grey leaves, slow growth and poor quality produce (unless irrigation applied).”
Find more gardening tips for April from RHS.
Weather-related gardening tips are also available on the Met Office website, courtesy of RHS.
Find more tips on getting out and enjoying the weather as part of the Met Office’s WeatherReady.
What’s this April’s weather outlook?
After a dry and sunny March for the UK, April has started on a similar note with very little rainfall and plenty of sunshine. Largely dry and sunny conditions are likely to continue for many through much of this week. However, there are signals for a change to more unsettled weather from the start of next week, with rain likely for some, which could well be welcome for some gardeners.
Find your latest weather forecast online with the Met Office.
