Many tasks at hand in the April garden

Gardeners keen on making the most of their outdoor space in the months to come need to be working on bringing plants up to speed now.

So claims the BBCs Gardeners World, which asserts that there are many activities that green fingered enthusiasts could be undertaking to get gardens and patios ready for the summer.

It suggests trimming winter-flowering heathers and picking off faded flower heads from hyacinths for floral fans, while vegetable growers should start to sow pots of herbs and plant out early potatoes and onions.

Meanwhile, in the greenhouse gardening enthusiasts should be careful to continue watering seedlings and sowing summer bedding such as dahlias, it claims.

However, those who are keen to make the most of summer displays need to look beyond the foliage and also take the time to treat timber fences and other wooden structures to stave off decay.

The Gardeners World website provides a wide range of information on how to transform a garden with advice for fans at all levels of experience.