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Once again it poured with rain at the weekend, so my heavy clay soil was too wet to be worked. Instead, I made for the greenhouse, to do a spot of cleaning.I spent a thoroughly productive couple of hours, jet washing the glass inside and out

Spread a compost mulch around border plants to suppress weedsPut pond pumps and fountains back into pools, thoroughly cleaning filters firstLay turf or sow new lawns from seedClean out bird baths and top up with fresh waterCheck tree ties

. These will usually be delivered during April and May, ready to be used in summer displaysSort out and clean up canes and plant supports, ready to be used in early springUse a pressure washer to clean paths, steps, paving and patios

Birds not only use water to drink, but they also bathe in it, helping them fluff up their feathers to insulate themselves against the cold. Experts have also found that clean birds are more streamlined, so can escape from predators quickly. Our bird

Clean and sharpen knives and secateurs, and spray metal tools with oilPut up nesting boxes for birds in suitable trees or on buildingsMove shrubs growing in the wrong placeService petrol lawn mowersSearch through seed, bulb and nursery catalogues

Empty your greenhouse and thoroughly clean inside, pressure washing the frame, staging and glazingCut back overwintered fuchsias, and increase frequency of watering to encourage new growthSow summer bedding plantsMonitor temperatures with a max

Choosing secateursImproving your lawnCutting a clean lawn edgeView a selection of vegetable plants Browse a variety of hardy perennials

a clean lawn edgeHow to mow a lawn effectivelyBrowse a selection of grass varietiesView plants by soil type

Carol Klein offers a practical guide to spotting and treating peony wilt, with tips on cleaning secateurs to avoid reinfection.summerMore advice on growing flowersCaring for peoniesGrowing lupinsPlanting out cerinthesGrowing dahlias from seed

Move plants from greenhouse to cold frame, to acclimatise to cooler temperatures before planting outDig out new ponds and water featuresClean and sharpen secateurs and garden knivesBuy summer-flowering bulbs now, while the best choice of varieties