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As the days get longer it’s tempting for many homeowners to express their authority over their lawns and garden. Here are some tips on how to satisfy the outdoor urge and get a jump on your gardening.

Avoid cleaning up your flowerbeds. Stray leaves and mulch act as a buffer to emerging bulbs against the cold snaps that are likely to come as spring makes its full debut.

• Never work with wet soil. Walking on wet ground will compact the soil and suffocate the roots beneath.

• To satisfy the urge to dig, put your efforts into the compost pile. Add leaves and soil to keep it nutrient-rich.

• Prune trees by the end of March, before the leaves come out and the sap starts to run.

• Lightly rake the lawn. It will look better (by ridding it of snow mold, weed grasses — caused by too much water exposure — and dead patches) and help you to assess the extent of any damage

• Apply a lawn fertilizer at half the recommended dose. One month later, apply a full dosage. Avoid applying too much nitrogen in early spring, however, or you will spend most of your summer mowing!

Source: Daisy Moore, garden designer and horticultural consultant. Visit www.daisymoore.com for more information

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