The most productive time of year for the garden is almost upon us, and it will soon be time to put the gardening tools to use preparing the garden for the serious work ahead. The wisest gardeners will have taken care to clean and oil their tools before putting them away for the winter, to ensure that they work well when the time comes. It’s a good idea to check them over again before the season begins.
The lawnmower, having spent many months idling in the shed, will also need checking over before its first use of the year. It’s especially important to use the correct height of blade for the length of grass to be cut to save damaging either the lawn or the mower. The same goes for hedge-trimmers and chainsaws – check the moving parts and oil where necessary. For electrical items, always check the cables and plugs for loose parts or wires, even if you checked them before winter storage. Kept in a shed for the winter, they may have been susceptible to damage from pests or frost.
Tempting though it is to rush out and buy bedding plants on the first promising day of spring, it is advisable to take account of the weather forecast. Even a slight ground frost can damage and even kill off tender new plants. Acclimatise them first by placing out of doors during the day and bringing them in at night, preferably into a greenhouse or onto a cool windowsill. If you are longing to get out into the garden because the sun has put in an unexpected appearance, you can spend time usefully preparing the soil, digging out beds and borders, and checking for weeds.
The right planning at the start of the season will ensure a rewarding spring and summer. Time spent checking tools now and planting according to prevailing weather conditions will result in a rewarding garden that, once the important work has been done, you can sit back and enjoy.
If you’re thinking about starting a garden, the first thing you need to consider is what type of garden you will have. There are many different choices and often it can be hard to pick just one, but hopefully you can narrow it down. But by narrowing it down, you’ll make the gardening experience easier on yourself and the plants. If all your plants are similar, then it shouldn’t be very hard to care for them all. So here are some of the main garden ideas for you to choose from.



