Whatever the weather there is always something that needs doing in the garden. Keep on top of tasks using this monthly guide. Mulch Protect new and established plants by mulching the soil between them with composted bark, cocoa shells or another ornamental mulch. This will not only look attractive, setting off the surrounding plants, but will reduce annual weed growth and conserve soil moisture. Always mulch over moist ground, never onto bone-dry soil, so be sure to water well first if necessary.
Lawns Mow it at least once a week, twice if possible, and finish by cutting the edges neatly.
Feed lawns if this hasn't been done already, and treat any weeds and moss. The clippings can usually be mixed into the compost heap, but remember to discard them for the first few mowings after applying weedkillers. Weeds Keep up the battle against problem weeds, making sure you remove any flowering stems before they have a chance to set seed. Many can be removed by hand, digging deeply to get out every last piece of root, or some chemical treatments can be effective. Larger areas can be cleared by smothering them with a large sheet of black polythene, left in place for many months.