It is that time of year, Spring! The weeds are already growing faster than your plants, the greenfly are breeding in their millions, and the slugs and snails are getting fit ready to eat anything that you plant!

It is time to engage in warfare with the little beasties, and time to start planting, if you haven’t already.

The local shops are full of delightful plants, colourful primroses that seem to flower all the year around are in the shops. The daffodils are in full bloom but once they are gone it is time for the next crop of summer plants and your garden centres and plant shops are geared up to supply all that you need, if you are not sure what to buy or how to plant them ask the staff and they will help all that they can. 

For the weeds, you need tools, try and get the roots out intact or the darned things will come back and pop up again. By all means try spray weed killers the systemic ones are pretty good, but at some stage you are going to have to get down on your knees (groan) and dig them out.

Proprietary brands of slug and snail killers are on sale, but remember that hedgehogs eat the beasties and if they are contaminated with slug pellets the hedgehogs will die too. If you see earwigs, by the way, they eat greenfly by the million, so don’t step on them- they are less expensive than whatever you are spraying with.

Bring out and clean thoroughly all your garden tools, or buy new ones. Wash thoroughly all of your plant pots and seed trays in readiness. Jeyes fluid is great for sterilising tools and plant pots (and greenhouses) – smelly but it works a treat.

It is a good time for spraying fruit trees though and applying grease bands.

There is a great deal that you can do in the garden now, planting, tiding up, taking cuttings, lifting bulbs (and snowdrops) and splitting them all nice steady jobs for a warm day.

If you’re looking for a little help with your garden, speak to Mojo Trust- Landscaping, they can restore your garden back to its former glory. Call them on 01204 689915.

Or if gardening isn't your thing, and the mower fills you with dread, but you would still like it looking beautiful, you can still enjoy gardening month and spring outdoors with Astro turf from Farnworth Carpets, give them a call on 01204 876751. They will not be beaten on price, service or quality.

The garden is full of things to do, but don’t forget, the most important thing that you can do in the garden is enjoy it, all work and no joy makes for a glum gardener.