Plants are really racing ahead and bursting into life. Time spent now in the garden will reap rewards later in the summer, giving you more time to relax and appreciate the fruits of your labour.
Borders
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Plant container grown roses but if your soil is heavy and wet, improve its drainage by digging in grit and well-rotted manure, compost or bark.
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Continue to lightly fork over borders and remove any weeds taking care not to damage emerging herbaceous plants.
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If not already done apply a general fertiliser such as fish, blood & bone, pelleted chicken manure or growmore to all plants.
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Continue to mulch any areas of garden not already done with well-rotted manure or compost.
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Continue to remove the faded flowers of bulbs.
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Plant summer flowering bulbs.
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Wait until the leaves of daffodils and other spring flowering bulbs have gone brown before you trim them.
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Begin spraying roses only if necessary to control pests and diseases.
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Late frosts can still cause damage to camellia and magnolia buds so use garden fleece to protect plants on frosty nights.
Bedding Plants
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Continue to pot up any plug plants of summer flowering plants you may have bought and keep them in a frost free, sunny spot.
Container Plants
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Remove any exhausted spring flowering plants from your containers and prepare them for summer flowering plants.
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When planting up hanging baskets place an old saucer or aluminium pie dish in the base at the basket before adding compost. This will act as a water reservoir.
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Remember to keep all tender plants in a frost-free place.
Lawns
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Re-seed or re-turf bald patches of lawn.
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Spread lawn fertiliser or combined weed and feed to produce a healthy lawn.
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Mow as often as required.
Fruit
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Mulch fruit trees with manure or bark if not previously done.
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Strawberries should be planted as soon as possible.
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If your gooseberries suffered from mildew last year spray with a fungicide.
The Vegetable Garden
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Plant out potatoes, onion sets and garlic cloves.
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Many outdoor vegetables can now be grown from seed.
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Thin out over crowded vegetable seedlings towards the end of the month.
The Greenhouse
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Plant tomatoes, aubergines and peppers in unheated greenhouses.
Ponds
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Feed fish if they are near the surface,
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Construct garden pools.
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Plant water lilies or other pond plants once the water starts to warm up.
General Tasks
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Use slug and snail control to protect the new shoots of plants.
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Clean paths and patio areas so that they look good and are not slippery.
