April is the busiest time in the garden, but no need to panic, just take things one step at a time and it will all get done. Make sure you take time to sit in the sun to admire any colour that’s already in the garden whilst you listen to the birds. It’s a good opportunity to make a note of any gaps in your spring planting for the autumn bulb order for next year’s display.

 Sow hardy annuals, such as marigolds, poppies, dill, cerinthe, nigella, as well as native wildflowers, into gaps in borders.
Harden off seedlings that have been started off indoors on warm still days. Place them outside during the day, but take them in again late afternoon, and do this for about a week or so. This way they will get used to the cooler conditions before being planted outside. Start planting out half-hardies, eg cosmos, in sheltered spots at end of the month.
Enjoy instant colour by planting primulas and polyanthus in pots and at the front of borders.
Prick out cut flower seedlings.
Sow perennials such as hollyhocks, delphiniums and echinaceas.
Sow sweet peas at the base of supports, and transplant those sown in autumn into their final positions.
Sow sunflowers in a sunny, open site, then water regularly and protect seedlings from slugs and snails.
Protect the new shoots of hostas, delphiniums, lupins and other vulnerable plants from slugs and snails.
Continue deadheading spring bulbs and bedding, so they don't waste energy setting seed.
Prune hydrangeas, cutting back the old stems to a healthy shoot lower down.
Reinvigorate mature clumps of hardy perennials, such as hostas, asters and daylilies, by dividing and replanting.
Check for aphids on roses and rub them off before they develop into major infestations.
Add aquatic plants, such as waterlilies and irises, to garden ponds.
Plant up hanging baskets and pots with summer bedding, but keep indoors until after the last frost
Pot up dahlia tubers.

Plant second-early and maincrop potatoes
Try direct sowing some rocket and other salad leaves, carrots, peas, beetroot, spinach and chard.
Sow some quick growing half-hardy annuals, like pumpkins, squash, sweetcorn, basil and French beans.
Sow outdoor varieties of tomatoes, chillies and courgettes in pots, so they're ready to plant out in late May or June
Plant out onions, shallots and garlic.
Pot on tomatoes. It’s tempting to move tomatoes from a module or seed tray straight into their final, large planting pot, but this slows growth. Tomatoes like to feel contained and cosy; their roots can’t cope with a large volume of compost and tend to rot. Pot them only one size up and add a cane at their side to support them as they grow.
Sow flowering companions in the veg plot, such as pot marigolds and borage
All soft fruits, eg strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, and gooseberries, will benefit from a mulch. Garden compost, leaf mould, organic manure, straw, hay and spent mushroom compost can all be used.
Sow herbs in pots or trays, including basil, chives, parsley, fennel and coriander
Hoe between rows of veg seedlings regularly, as weeds grow rapidly at this time of year

Cut back tatty old fern fronds to make way for new ones that are starting to unfurl
Lay turf or sow grass seed to create a new lawn or repair damaged patches
Remove moss and weeds in turf, and boost growth with a nitrogen-rich lawn feed
Cut away unwanted suckers growing around the base of trees and shrubs 

Start feeding houseplants once a week with liquid fertiliser, continuing through to autumn

 Put a bag of barley straw in ponds to discourage algae and keep the water clear all summer
Keep cloches or large sheets of fleece handy to protect young plants if late frost is forecast
Check that guttering on sheds and greenhouses is clear of debris, so that April showers will fill up water butts
Treat problem weeds, such as nettles and brambles
Look out for clusters of aphids on shoot tips and young leaves, and wipe off before they multiply
Keep putting out food for birds, as they're busy raising their broods

With the arrival of spring, there is plenty to do in the garden in March. The days are longer and a little warmer and hopefully any risk of frost will have passed by the end of the month. Now is a great time to start seed sowing, plant roses and lift and divide perennial plants.

March is the time for sowing hardy annual seeds under cover, either in a greenhouse, on a windowsill or in a conservatory.
Half-hardy annuals can also be sown later on in the month when the light levels have improved, and the nights are less cold.
Sow perennials.
Pinch out the tips of winter-sown sweet peas to encourage sideshoots.
Prepare any areas in flowerbeds that you are going to direct sow hardy annuals in later March through to April.
Towards the end of the month is best for mass pricking out of annual seedlings. Transplant everything that has formed its true leaves (recognisably like that of the parent plant) into their own individual pot. Take care to get right under each baby plant and lift out the whole of its root, a dibber, stiff label or pencil is handy. Try to handle everything by its leaves and not the stem, which bruises very easily.
Pot on any rooted cuttings of tender perennial plants taken last summer.

Plant summer-flowering bulbs such as lilies, gladioli, freesias, crocosmia, etc.
Plant dahlia tubers in pots under cover.
Start deadheading spring bulbs as the flowers finish. Leave the foliage to die back naturally to feed the bulb for next spring.

Cut down old growth of perennials and grasses left over winter.
If the soil is workable, dig in a layer of compost or manure, and work in a slow-release fertiliser such as blood, fish and bone, chicken manure or comfrey pellets.
Weeds will have started to grow, so keep on top of them whenever you can.
Lift and divide your summer-flowering perennials.
Prune shrub roses – remove all dead and crossing wood on your rose bushes and cut the rest back by at least a half, try to cut just above an outward-facing bud.
Deadhead hydrangeas before the new growth appears - cut to about one third of last season's growth.
Prune forsythia once they have finished flowering, cut back to strong, young shoots.

Plant herbaceous perennials.
Order and plant bare root roses – these are usually much cheaper and stronger growers than pot-grown plants. You can plant bare root roses in March, but wait till there is no frost on the ground. Or pot them into large pots to grow on and plant later in the garden– just keep them well watered.

Sow fruiting half-hardy vegetables such as tomatoes.
Sow courgettes, leeks, peas, beetroot and cucumbers under cover.
Sow perennial veg seeds, e.g. globe artichokes.
Plant asparagus crowns.
Sow broad beans direct outside.
Direct sow carrots, parsnips and radishes.
Plant Early potatoes.
Sow salad leaves and herbs under cover.

Top-dress pots. Revitalise any permanently planted pots by scraping out the top layer of old compost to a depth of 2-3in and replacing with fresh compost. Fork it into the old compost surface.

Keep an eye out for signs of slugs and snails. Put slug prevention in place, especially around young vulnerable shoots.
Keep providing birds with fresh water and food. Avoid large pieces that fledglings can choke on.

February can bring a mix of weather, from sunshine warm enough to take your coat off, to snow or heavy freezing rain. Now’s a good time to get out into the garden to work and look around.
If the ground isn’t too frozen or waterlogged, you can dig the soil over, or turn any compost. Tidy up any debris on beds and the lawn. Get prepared and buy seeds and compost for the coming months.
Check your tools – a prime opportunity to check over your garden equipment and repair or replace as required
Apply organic fertilisers – a slow release of nutrients is great for moving from Winter into Spring to help plants retain moisture and nutrition. Blood, fish and bone, seaweed or pelleted chicken manure is ideal.
Heat the greenhouse – frost and snow is still a threat so keep plants and the greenhouse warm with a heater
Add some spring colour to your garden with pot-grown bulbs
Prepare ground for hardy annuals. Clear and rake ground.
Start sowing hardy annual seeds inside now for early flowers. Sow them in your greenhouse or use a window ledge propagator or seed tray inside. Don't be tempted to sow too many seeds this early in the sowing season – they may become leggy and drawn out due to low light levels at this time of year.
Start sowing slow-growers under cover – like antirrhinums & cobaea.
Pot on cuttings of tender perennials taken in the autumn.
If there is a dry spell, remember to water containers.
Plant Lily of the Valley (Convallaria) and snowdrops in the green and divide any larger congested clumps if you have any already in the garden.
Plant scented lily bulbs in pots and in your borders.
Finish pruning fruit trees and bushes and add a sprinkling of sulphate or potash around the base of their trunks.
Move shrubs growing in the wrong place, and cut back your overgrown shrubs and hedges. It's best to do it now before the nesting season starts.
Order your potatoes for chitting, and make sure you order veg seed now for later sowing.
You can sow some herb seeds under cover– really hardy annual and biennials such as chervil, parsley and coriander.
Cut autumn-fruiting raspberry canes to the ground. They will fruit in the autumn on the new canes.
Force rhubarb shoots for an early crop.
It’s been hard on the birds, make sure you fill your bird feeders and try to remember to defrost the birdbath.

January is the time for planning, preparation and laying the foundations for the year to come. Make use of the mild weather to plant potted roses, shrubs, hedging and trees now so they’ll burst into life in spring

Prune roses - cut back to just above an outward facing bud and remove any crossing or dead/diseased branches

Prune shrubs and trees while they’re dormant

Deadhead winter bedding (violas, pansies, polyanthus) to prolong flowering

Sow your sweet peas under cover. Sown now, they'll give you earlier flowers in greater numbers and a longer season

Take and root cuttings from perennials, such as phlox, oriental poppies and delphiniums

Take hardwood cuttings from deciduous shrubs, such as forsythia, willow and viburnum

Start sowing hardy annuals, such as cornflowers, cerinthe, ammi, calendulas and nigella, in modular trays for early flowers

Keep on top of winter-germinating weeds

Spread a layer of compost around shrubs and along the base of hedges

Clear away soggy, collapsed stems of perennials and compost them