What to do now

Work your way through your borders, removing dandelion flowerheads before they get the chance to set seed. Flowers of dandelions are a useful source of early nectar for pollinators but if they are abl

Add support to peonies that have, large, heavy flowers such as ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ and ‘Duchesse de Nemours’. Special tapered, cone-shaped supports for peonies are available and can be simply pushed int

Looking after shrub and climbing roses Cut back, feed ...

Spread a bulky mulch on top of the soil surface around the base of young apple trees to condition the soil, hold in moisture and suppress weeds. This will all help the tree to establish well. Use well

Sow courgette and squash seeds now so you’ll have seedlings ready to plant outside in early summer. Fill pots or large module trays with peat-free multi-purpose compost. Place one seed in each pot, ab

Snip now and your flowers will thank you later as a small trim can work wonders, says Joe Swift