Five more boredom-busting tasks to tackle
Move shrubs
Early spring is a great time to move shrubs planted in the wrong place. Dig a trench around the perimeter, using the spread of the branches as a guide. Undercut with a spade to leave a large rootball, trimming untidy roots with secateurs. Lift the rootball on to a sheet and wrap to prevent drying out. Replant immediately.
Tidy ferns
Evergreen ferns keep their foliage all year round but it’s inevitable some fronds will have been bashed by clumsy feet or damaged during stormy weather over winter. Tidy up plants by cutting off poorly looking fronds close to the crown, allowing fresh ones to unfurl in their place.
Clean surfaces
Paving often looks really shabby at this time of year, so make the most of dry, bright days by cleaning hard surfaces, such as patios, paths and driveways. Ideally, use a pressure washer on a high setting to shift grime with ease. If you don’t have one, use a bucket of soapy water, broom with stiff bristles – and good old elbow grease.
Trim hydrangeas
If you left the old flower heads on mophead and lacecap hydrangeas over winter, now is the time to snip them off. Simply cut back to the nearest pair of healthy-looking buds. Most hydrangeas flower on old wood, so avoid pruning hard as you’ll evict dormant flower buds, preventing a summer display.
Greenhouse care
Give greenhouses a spring clean to get rid of any pests or diseases before the growing season starts in earnest. Remove all of the contents and then sweep up debris, before washing windows, benches and the floor. Allow everything to dry and then move plants back, pinching off any dying leaves or flowers.