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

Almost every gardener has a pot or two of strawberries on their plot, and with their compact, easy-to-care-for nature, who can blame us? Freshly picked fruits are juicy, flavoursome and far superior t

Lucy highlights some of the most pressing jobs she’ll be tackling this fortnight

Prepare a free-draining, sunny and weed-free bed to grow broad beans. Rake in blood, fish and bonemeal fertiliser to give the plants a boost. Plant the seedlings in a row, 15-20cm apart. Dig a hole an

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

Lucy considers some of the exciting jobs to be done as spring gets underway