Easter is the commemoration of Jesus’ death and his rising from the dead. Good Friday is also the day for hot cross buns, because the cross on the bun is a reminder of the cross Jesus died on. Easter Sunday marks Jesus’ resurrection though the date varies from year to year because it is based on the lunar calendar. It is celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon, on or after March 21st, this year 23rd March. Easter eggs symbolise new life. However, the festival of Easter stretches back to pre-Christian times and is likely to be based on the Pagan Spring Equinox festival, which celebrates Spring and new life.

Right that’s enough general knowledge for the time being as early spring is an ideal time to plant geraniums, perennial plants and poppies. But first clear up weedy beds, (dig !!) and prepare the soil for planting summer bulbs such as lilies, gladioli and anemones. Dahlia tubers should be potted up to produce new shoots for cuttings. If you are going to be digging over borders etc, work in some organic matter or compost, it will be even better if you have produced it yourself. This will improve water retention in light soils and improve drainage in heavy soils. So, just to backtrack, if you do not have a composting bin, buy one or make one yourself. The other benefit will be all that digging will help you attain your pre winter figure……and a bad back if you do not warm up first before leaping into action.

When daffodils stop flowering, remove the deadheads, but leave the leaves and stems as these will be responsible for the bulbs growth. The flower for next season will also be formed by early summer. Deadhead winter bedding to encourage continued flowering. Top dress spring-flowering alpines with grit or gravel to show off the plants and help prevent rotting around the neck.

March is a good month for buying (and planting) roses and there is a wealth of varieties to choose from for all situations. Plug plants are ideal for growing on as they are good value for money and save you time by avoiding pricking out seedlings, though you will have to pot on or plant out.

Unfortunately now that the weather is warming up, your lawn will be starting to grow which means that you will need to mow it, therefore you should ensure that all your equipment is serviced and raring to go. A double unfortunate as your weed growth will also start to increase, so sharpen the hoe (or tweezers). Back to the lawn, the first cut on the lawn should not be the deepest despite what the song says but should be a shallow, light one and just top the grass to toughen it up for later. Towards the end of the month, think about applying a nitrogen dressing, to fatten it up after its winter diet.

If you are like me and didn’t bother much with the lawn since last autumn you probably ought to do some maintenance. Start by scarifying it and raking out the rubbish (officially thatch and moss).

Birds have certainly started building nests here in Jersey, putting up nesting boxes can help attract birds to your garden and the RSPB and other wildlife bodies are a good source of information for both feeding and box type and construction.

Frogs, toads and hedgehogs are now starting to emerge from hibernation as the weather gets milder. Insects start to emerge as temperatures increase and a mild spring can see pest problems developing earlier than usual, so bear it in mind. However with the (Wellington) boot on the other foot you may actually want to attract insects into the garden and should therefore consider growing plants which are known to attract them such as primulas.

I read on another gardening page that the weather men are predicting another long hot summer. Sorry, but where was the long hot summer they forecast last year. Well I suppose if they keep on predicting a long hot summer they are bound to be right sooner or later. Watch this Space!.

Right, time for a bit more general knowledge and a cuppa to finish off with before getting out in the garden to put into practice what we preach. In the eighteenth century ‘Mothering Sunday’ was reserved for household servants to return home to be with their mothers. Though this custom stopped when the Industrial Revolution altered the working and living patterns of the people, one Sunday for Mothers was established as a holiday in the twentieth century. Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent. Although it’s often called Mothers’ Day it has no connection with the American festival of that name.

Next month is April and kicks off with April Fools day, more of which next month.