Mow lawns regularly now, but think about leaving some areas long for wildlife and to encourage flowers to bloom. Reseed bare patches or lay turf. Tie in climbing and rambling roses, sweet peas and clematis as they climb. Summer bedding can be planted out towards the end of the month.
Stake any herbaceous plants that will flop over or be damaged by high winds. Prune spring-flowering shrubs such as Choisya and Ribes after flowering. Watch out for nesting birds when starting to trim hedges and shrubs. Keep on earthing up potatoes,and finish planting any potatoes that you have left to plant. Beans, sweetcorn, squashes and pumpkins can be planted outside now. Hang pheromone traps in apple trees to check for codling moths.
Watch out for viburnum beetle and lily beetle grubs. Keep bird baths topped up with clean water. Remove blanket weed and duckweed from ponds. Tadpoles will be starting to emerge now, and newts will be laying their eggs. Apply a liquid fertilizer to spring bulbs as they are dying down to feed the bulbs for next year. Let the leaves die off naturally. Hoe borders and vegetable patches regularly to keep on top of the weeds.
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