When risk of frost is past, plant out summer bedding plants, either in tubs and hanging baskets, or directly into borders. Hoe flower beds and vegetable patch regularly to prevent weeds establishing. Remove suckers fruit trees growing up from their root stock.

Pick off faded flowers from camellias, azaleas and magnolias.

Trim privet hedges to keep them tidy and shaped.

Apply weed killer to paths & driveways. If you don’t have one invest in a compost bin (or make one). You’ll be amazed at how much kitchen waste and garden rubbish you can recycle. You’ll then have compost on hand to dig back into your garden next spring.

Reduce cutting height of mower blades as grass growth gets stronger.

Plant your vegetables in May, beetroot, onions, garlic, cauliflower, beans, carrots, etc. Sow lettuce and raddish seed every fortnight throughout late spring/summer to ensure you have a constant supply of fresh salad .

Marrows, courgettes, squash, cucumbers and tomatoes can now be planted out. They all have a high demand for water. When planting mould soil round the young plants so water pools directly at their base, or sink a 10cm plastic pot into soil next to each plant (directed to their roots) and water directly into the pot. Tie in new growth on climbing plants, eg. clematis, wisteria and honeysuckle.