DISHING THE DIRT.  Soil is the powerhouse of your garden, and with temps rising and a few fine days under our belts, now is the time to get it ready for planting.  Dig in some compost, blood and bone and sheep pellets.  If you have clay soil fling in some generous handfuls of gypsum.  Remove any stones, and break up large clumps of soil. Try not to walk on soil you’ve just cultivated – lay a board across to walk on, or put down a few strategic pavers for walking and kneeling on.

ITS GOOD TO HAVE WORMS.  Learn to love worms, and encourage them by digging in lots of organic matter. Why are worms the business? Because they tunnel through soil, creating spaces for air and drainage; their slime helps create better soil structure, and their excretions? Awesome fertiliser!  The more worms you have, the healthier your soil will be.

CHECK YOUR TOOLS. Get your tools sharpened now, or DIY it with a multi-tool sharpening kit. Check your secateurs springs, look for wobbly trowel handles and check your stocks of soft ties, stakes, fertiliser, potting mix and slug pellets. Time to stock up and replace what’s worn out because things are about to get busy!

BUG HUNTING. Go on an aphid hunt and start reducing the population now. Use a pyrethrum spray, or dishwashing liquid and warm water in a spray bottle.  It wouldn’t hurt to thin out the snail herd while you’re at it.

GET WEEDING! Get the jump on weeds and you’ll have less work later on. Weed out the veg bed, leave it for a week or two and see if any more come up, then give it a good hoeing before you plant.  If you’re not sure what’s a weed and what’s a seedling, give it another couple of weeks. Often the weed will be a lot more vigorous and healthy looking!