As soon as the weather warms up there is great temptation to rush into jobs that have previously been deferred. Often there is a good reason for the delay and somethings should not be rushed.

• Do not trim or refurbish hedges in May. Think of the nesting birds and the unfledged chicks that may be disturbed. It is soon enough to do your pruning later in June when the birds have flown the nest. Your hedges wont suffer except for the odd week of failing to look there best.
• Another don’t is do not cut off the leaves of Daffodils and other spring bulbs at least until the goodness has gone back into the bulb for next season. The leaves are there to photosynthesize and put sugars and starch into the bulb for next year and over enthusiastic removal will send bulbs blind or into terminal decline.
• Planting out seedlings too early may kill them off. My runner beans will not go out until June at the earliest. Late plants have a good habit of catching up. Early plants can get a severe ‘check’ to growth by cold, inhospitable weather.
• Do not pick all the Rhubarb stalks but leave some to regenerate the plant for next year.