Spring checklist

Check for signs of growth. Did you remember to plant snow crocus last fall? If not, cut forsythia or magnolia branches to bring inside for forcing.

Prep the beds. Remove winter mulch or, if well composted, work into the top layer of the soil. Work in some leaf mould or well-rotted manure, too.

Prune. Now is the time to trim fruit trees if you didn't prune in winter. Prune before buds begin to break into bloom or you'll stress the tree and get a tiny crop (or possibly none).

Perform basic maintenance. Check stonework for frost heaves. Check and clean the deck now so you don't have to do it later; make any repairs.

Start seeds indoors. You've spent the winter reading seed and plant catalogues, so now try some.

Picks of the season

Orchid (Phalaenopsis)
Orchids are now readily available and as they flower for such a long period are excellent houseplants. With a collection of several different varieties it is possible to have orchids in flower all the year round.

Hellebores
Harbingers of spring. Traditionally their flowers hung down so to see their beauty one either had to physically hold the flower up, or to use a mirror underneath, but many of the newer varieties hold their flowers up, as with the Helleborus hybridus Double Queen photographed here. The earliest open for Christmas and others are at their best now in March.

Spring Planter
Don't wait for the summer bedding plants to fill any containers you have as it is possible to have a really good display for much of the winter into Spring. Shown here are winter flowering heather, camellia, skimmia , polyanthus, sarcocca, ivy, viola and daffodils all packed into a 14 inch pot for maximum effect now, then for planting out later.

Prunus nipponica kurilensis Brilliant
When this gem of a small shrub comes into flower one knows spring is really on its way. The dainty blush white flowers appear right along the stems just before the leaves start to unfurl. It does not get damaged by late frosts or heavy showers of rain and due to its small size can even be used in containers.
All it needs is a sunny site.