It's a busy bank holiday

IT is the final bank holiday until August and our gardens are in their growing prime, so let’s get out there and make the most of it!

- Ruth Hayes

The soil and air temperatures are warm enough for sowing directly now, so add hardy and half hardy annuals to any borders that have gaps between plants.

Plant perennials and bedding plants, making sure they have enough space to grow well and healthily.

We are at the end of No Mow May, but we would still encourage you to leave a patch of wild flowers and long grass to welcome insects, invertebrates, amphibians and other garden wildlife – many of them will also help you deal with any pest problems.

Keep the greenhouse well ventilated. Cover the glass with shading netting or paint so plants don’t get scorched, and wet the floor to lower the temperature.

Harvest grey water and shower water, and use collected rainwater to top up your pond is the water level falls.