Spring garden jobs: Part 1 - Preparing your plants for spring

Spring is almost upon us and for many this means it is time to head into the garden for the busiest season of the year.

The garden can often be neglected during winter so for many green thumbs around the country, knowing where to start may be daunting.

We've put together this garden DIY list of the top jobs to be tackled in your garden this spring.

Winter clean-up

With winter almost behind us, it is time to deal with the aftermath of the cold, wet season. Give your lawn a good rake to get rid of all the dead growth, leaves and other winter debris - this will get more air and sun to the soil to encourage growth.

Re-seeding

Winter can often leave damaged patches of lawn which need re-seeding. To do this, you need to scratch up the soil with a rake or similar tool and lay down some new dirt containing grass seeds.

Remove tree guards

Tree guards are used in winter to protect small young trees and plants, which may be vulnerable to animal pests - in most cases, they aren't required in summer.

Weed, weed, weed

As the sun reappears after a long gloomy winter, plants, trees, shrubs will flourish - and included in this new growth are weeds. Getting on top of the weeding early will help you keep these pesky plants at bay and protect your garden in the process.