It’s that time of year when most gardeners will be thinking about giving their lawnmower its first outing of the year, storms permitting! Having been stored away in winter ‘hibernation’ for the past few months, some mowers might need a service before being ready for action.

Every four years, we get to enjoy the 29^th of February, and that four-year cycle has come around again in 2020. But why DO we have a leap year? And how can we make the most of that extra day this month?

Compost heaps have been lying dormant through the winter. It’s a good time to turn them with a fork or spade to get them moving, to break down the contents into crumbly nutritious humus to spread on your spring garden.

Winter frosts continue, so if you have not done so already, wrap some horticultural fleece around those tender plants.

February 14 … Valentine’s Day, and the day when red roses sell like hot cakes across the world.

Your garden knows who you really are, just by the way you take care of it. With a single look, you can tell somebody's inner personality. Extroverted or contemplative? You'll never look at your neighbour’s lawn the same way again!

The Garden has two souls. A designer approach with landscaping, and a more plant-centric one with gardening. Get to know the different ways of conceiving a garden, and which one of them best suits your needs.