I’m a gardening expert and here are the eight essential jobs you need to do this month – including pruning and weeding

SPRING time is finally upon us and that means it's time to get out in the garden and enjoy whiling away afternoons outdoors.

You can stack the odds in your favour by doing a few simple tasks now to make sure your plants and flowers thrive in the coming months.

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Experts from  recommend that we grab our trowels and rakes and get to work, as there are a number of jobs that are best achieved now.

Clear up beds and borders

First on the list is checking out all your plants, removing anything that's damaged from the harsh winter and clearing any debris.

You may also want to tidy up the edges of your borders and lawn to make sure your space looks well cared for.

Get pruning

The gardening professionals said: "Removing dead, diseased or excess portions of a plant to encourage new growth is an essential part of plant maintenance - not just for beauty purposes, but for the health of the plant too.

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"Spring is not a good time to prune certain plants that are already in bud such as rhododendrons, so check if you are unsure so you don’t remove all your summer flowers by mistake."

Ditching the weeds

If you haven't been out there in a while, you may find that weeds have taken over your flowerbeds.

Now's the time to make sure you have them under control and it'll save you a lot of effort in the summer.

The best way to banish them is to pluck them out by hand, removing the roots as well.

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Sow seeds

The expert said: "Once the frosts are over you can sow seeds outdoors for beetroots, carrots, Swiss chard, summer cauliflower and kohlrabi.”

You can also go for lettuce, leeks, rakhi, turnip, spring and pickling onions, peas and perpetual spinach in well-prepared soil.

Put in supports

The pros said: ";Put supports in place for vegetables, peonies and other perennials before they get too big.

"Support pea plants with sticks, twigs, support mesh, or wire netting, to avoid them getting damaged in blustery spring winds."

Look after the shrubs

The experts insisted that this is the perfect time to plant new trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants as it will allow them a lot of time to get settled before the summer months.

If your spring flowering shrubs have bloomed, then cut them back and feed them.

Sort out the lawn

This is the perfect time to get your lawn looking ship shape.

This means mowing the grass and scattering dressing and seeds to repair any damage from winter.

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Watering

The experts said: “Although watering is important and unique to each plant, before the hot summer months try to save as much water as you can.

"During spring, use mulch, compost and other alternatives that offer moisture to make sure your garden stays hydrated. You can always check moisture in the soil with your finger at 2.5cm deep. If the soil is dry, it’s time for watering."