Colin Evans

If the ground is dry, then getting the mower out is ideal to revitalise weary winter grass. Not only will this make your garden smell wonderful, but it will also look fantastic.

Birds will be drawn to your luscious lawn as short grass makes it easier for them to find food and also keep an eye out for predators.

Dandelion

Be careful not to damage the flowering spring bulbs whilst maintaining borders and forking weeds as the flowers may not germinate.

If exotic plants in pots tickles your fancy this year, the BRUGMANSIA or 'Angels Trumpet'" will fit the bill. The exotic blooms are highly fragrant, especially on summer evenings and will make a breathtaking specimen for your summer patio display.

Buy your plants within the next few weeks and plant them in tubs of loam-based potting compost. Once planted, they will grow exceptionally rapidly. Provide them with shelter during April and May. You'll be rewarded with wonderful plants that can reach over a metre high.

Plants in a Greenhouse

When flowering finishes in Autumn, simply trim the plants and put them in a frost free place to get them through the winter. Next year, you can start all over again with the same plants.

Sow seeds of mixed wild flowers in small pots of compost and place them in a frost free spot. Once the seeds have germinated allow the seedlings to grow and when a good root system can be seen showing through the holes at the base of the pots, then knock out the whole clump and plant in the final planting position.

Potatoes

In some gardens, especially in those facing southwards, you may have already noticed Potato tubers showing signs of green above the soil.

If this is the case then cover the green shoots with more earth. They will find their way through in the end. Repeat this procedure until the mounds are a good few inches high. You will get a bigger crop this way and water will run down the furrows and not water log the Potatoes.

Bright plants

The warm weather is just round the corner, so it is best to buy your small plants in trays to prepare for hanging basket construction. Keep these watered and frost free for the next two weeks, before planting into the hanging baskets. You'll need as many plants as you can get into the baskets, as sparsely planted ones look very poor indeed.

I will be giving you more advice on hanging baskets in a future issue.

Happy Gardening!