Tips and Tricks for Gardeners from Roddy Llewellyn

WEEDS - as the garden slowly stirs back to life, weeds should be hoed while still small.
SLUGS AND SNAILS are back for the season. Deal with them as you think appropriate.
Position SUPPORTS FOR HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS.
An application of a SLOW-RELEASE FERTILISER lightly forked in around the base of plants in the border should give them all the food they need throughout the forthcoming season.
It may be tempting to plant out BEDDING PLANTS (tender annuals) on sale in some shops and nurseries, but you should resist doing so until the last threat of frost is over (usually mid-May in the south of the UK and early June in the north).
Check TREE TIES, some may be too loose and others too tight.
A wild and sunny part of the garden can entertain HORSERADISH. Once established it is difficult to get rid of because of its very deep roots.
Prune back FORSYTHIA now that the flowers have faded. THE GENERAL RULE FOR ALL FLOWERING SHRUBS is to cut them back soon after they have finished flowering.
Leave DAFFODILS die back on their own – cutting off dead leaves merely weakens the bulbs. Never tie them into knots.
Hang up yellow ‘STICKY TRAPS’ in the greenhouse to trap APHIDS.

Roddy Llewellyn's Tips & Tricks