2020 was like no other and more people tried to grow their own than ever before, with a massive upsurge in allotments and backyard gardening. 

It’s been a difficult start to the year for everyone, compounded by the winter weather, but gardeners are made of ‘stern stuff’, so its time to look forward to another successful gardening year! 

Firstly, just a reminder, seed and plant suppliers were swamped with orders last spring with the increased interest in gardening, lockdowns etc. so get those orders in early!

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.