April in your Cool Temperate garden

Plant your new lawn while the soil is warm and moist, and while the air temperature is not so warm that it burns off the newly germinated grass. Soil preparation is vital. Grass seed does best on a fine tilth. Use gypsum on clay soils and a lawn starter fertiliser to encourage good growth.

Your existing lawn may need minor repairs. Fork bald patches over, apply gypsum on clay soils and a light dressing of SaturAid before seeding. Keep children and pets off while the grass germinates.

Plant spring flowering bulbs in containers of Debco Bulb Potting Mixture. You won't need to fertilise, the mix contains sufficient fertiliser for up to nine months.

Select your winter and spring flowering annuals at your local nursery – pansies, poppies, primulas and violas can all be planted. Mix them with bulbs – tulips or narcissus - for a wonderful display. Use Phostrogen liquid fertiliser for best growth and display, and mulch with Debco Mulch 'n' Feed to reduce weed growth and really set off your plants.

Watch out for snails and slugs in wet weather. Use snail baits judiciously, placing them among vertical foliages, where snails shelter, for best effect.

In the vegetable garden, plant broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower seedlings, using plenty of compost and applying Phostrogen soluble fertiliser every two weeks for even growth. Gather autumn leaves and add them to your compost bin. Coarse, large leaves may need to be shredded to assist in their breakdown.