Spring in the garden is one of the busiest seasons, preparing for spectacular summer displays yet to come.

Mulching around trees and shrubs will provide nutrients and moisture retention over the warmer season. Compost created throughout the last year is ideal for this, and a handful of organic fertiliser will give plants an extra boost during the most important growing period. Mulching will also help cut down the amount of weeding that will have to be done later.

Many summer flowering herbaceous perennials can be divided now with a pair of forks and replanted to increase your stocks. Make sure you add some compost to the planting hole when replanting to help them establish faster.

Lawn maintenance during the spring will include giving the lawn an application of lawn sand to kill any moss off that has accumulated over the winter. Scarifying later in March is a great way to remove thatch and moss, therefore aiding water and nutrients to penetrate to the roots of the grass, making the lawn healthier. The first cut of the lawn can take place any time from February onwards. Use the mower on its highest setting to start with as the lawn is not strong enough to be cut short yet. An application of general purpose fertiliser later in mid spring will assist the lawn in maximising growth potential over the summer.