SPRING CLEAR-OUT

When spring plants begin to die, remove all bedded material and dig over the ground to make a comfortable home for your summer plants. If the soil is impoverished, feed the ground as you work, sprinkling a little fertiliser before digging over, taking care to remove deeprooted weeds. Make sure all halfhardy summer plants are fully hardened off and if there’s a dry spell after planting, be ready to water thoroughly, to help them establish their root systems.