Hopefully, spring has sprung! It has been in my opinion the worst winter weatherise for many years; even the sun seemed to pass us by. April has thankfully seen a reversal in more stable weather patterns.

Many of you will be preparing your houseplants etc. for the Agricultural Show that will require much time and effort considering the poor weather conditions over the last few months. Judges will look for plants that are true to type. Just as important is that flowers and foliage must be clean, fresh and free from pests and disease. I have seen over the years, many a plant so infested with insects that they could have walked home on their own.

When you have little time for the garden, one of the first priorities should be the lawn, little if any 'new' growth appeared during the winter as the temperatures stayed low. However, once the temperature consistently starts to hit 65 degrees, new growth will become evident quite quickly. The problem could well be the fact that both winter weeds are still present as well as the emergence of summer weeds. Is is therefore advisable to give the lawns a good starter fertiliser and also a lawn herbicide to control weed growth. Contingent on the extent of the weed growth, one can apply a fertiliser/herbicide mix or as separate applications. Seek advice before purchasing, as not all chemicals are usable on all grasses, St. Augustine being especially prone to chemical damage. If you have a verticutter give the lawn a once over, or ask your landscape server to carry out the task, it will assist in generating new root growth and break up thatch from the previous years.

Wind damage has been extensive throughout the winter months, with new growth now starting to appear. Care should be taken in pruning to ensure all old, dead, dying and diseased wood is removed before full leaf is achieved. Create an open centre to encourage strong growth for new wood, which also assists in developing outward facing branches and thus a better-shaped specimen. For those plants that have come into active growth, keep an eye out for insects such as aphids, which love to nestle into soft growth, and spray accordingly to control existing and potential invaders!

April is usually a good time to plant, with root growth becoming active as the soil warms up, which encourages active growth and the settling of the plant in general with warm spring rains, Remember to give the root ball a large enough hole in which to establish good growth without being checked in its establishment. Water plants whilst in their pots and again after planting, with continuous watering until the plant is standing on its own. Foliage is always a good indicator as to whether the root system is in sync with its top growth, flagging foliage being the tell tale sign the plant is not happy! Lack of water in the early days of planning can cause die back to youth soft growth, and check the future viability to the branch system.

Never leave a hosepipe lying in the sun, as heat build up on a sunny day can cause scalding on foliage when it is time to wear the new or established paintings. When fertilising shrub borders always take care to apply the granules to the soil and away from the foliage, and keep the fertiliser in the art of the foliage, and keep the fertiliser in the area of the foliage drip line, which is usually in the art of the feeder root zone.

When considering plantings for a screen effect, consider a random planting and not a straight line planting. This is especially so when planting on an embankment or sloping piece of land. Whether the planting is to hide a wall or simply for privacy a random planting gives a greater depth to the planting, with the simple act of pruning giving the desired long-term effect. Planting on a slope can be tricky at best, especially when the angle of repose is greater than thirty degrees, with run off and erosion becoming a major problem. The quicker a slope is covered the less likely the danger of erosion; with the leaf cover breaking the effect of rain hitting the soil. As an aside, the exercise of inserting unrooted cuttings onto a slope, does not in most cases create a quicker cover, but can have the opposite effect of creating run off problems, by the very act of having to trespass on the slope to replant new material.

If you have a large property and create a great deal of horticultural waste, especially through prunings, you might want to consider creating a compost heap. Branches when put through a chipping machine can create a good mulch in a short period of time, which adds organic matter back to the soil, a much cheaper method than having to purchase peat and manure!

Whilst cogitating on the task at hand and pottering around the garden, give a thought to servicing the garden tools, they have more than likely lain untouched for several months without much attention. With the advent of Spring and the clocks going forward an hour, just think what you can do in the garden after a long day at the office, it has therapeutic properties so it is said!