That's the message Patrick Dunkley at Buckingham Garden Centre wants to put across to the green-fingered among us.
He said: "Getting the root structure in place is the secret of good planting and gardening.
"By getting ahead now you get roots established in pots so when the weather is good during the summer the plants can take plenty of water through stronger roots.
"It is also a good time to get rid of old dead wood and leaves from the winter and prune your rose bushes.
"March and April is the best time to start looking at preparing your vegetable plots, so long as the ground isn't too wet.
"If you have a small greenhouse or conservatory, now is a good time to start preparing your hanging baskets so that by June your basket will be full of plants and good to go out."
The mixed basket still has a lot going for it. A mix of busy lizzies, lobelia, petunia, geraniums and fuchsias can give a stunning display.
Shy away from the cocktail mix in favour of just one plant. Surfinias and fuchsias are a natural choice. Perfect basket fuchsias include Dark Eyes, Eva Borg, Harry Grey, La Campanella, Seventh Heaven and the ever popular Swingtime. For a 12 inch basket opt for five plants – one in the middle and four round the edge.
The garden centre offers customers a range of seeds, bulbs and plants as well as advice on growing and caring for your garden.

Godetia, Clarkia, Nigella, Candytuft, Cornflower and Calendula are just a few bedding plants which can be sown direct in their flowering position in April and May to provide splashes of colour for much of the summer.
This show can be continued further if sowings are made around every three weeks.
Generally they require no artificial watering once established and will give a good show in just a few weeks from sowing, even in dry summers.