After a very cold and long winter and a very late start to spring it is now time to get out into the garden and get it ready for the hopefully good summer ahead. It can appear a bit daunting when just starting to get the garden sorted but by being organised and taking a logical approach it can be relatively straightforward if hard work. There are some very basic steps to clearing a garden:

• Preparation – take a logical and practical look at what needs to be done, measure the garden and make a basic plan of the garden;
• Inventory – check out the tools available, basic tools such as spades, mower, rake, can be bought at reasonable prices, other tools can be hired such as strimmers or a garden shredder to shred any small branches or garden debris;
• Budget – set a reasonable budget, visit garden centres and do-it-yourself stores to check prices for tools, garden furniture and plants;
• Timsecale – set a reasonable timeframe, it may take more than one growing season to have the ideal garden. If there is much hard landscaping or heavy preparatory work it may only be possible to clear and tidy the garden before autumn, plans should then be made to build on this foundation the next spring; and
• Hardwork - the initial preparatory work will be the most physical work – perhaps clearing old trees or bushes that can be put through a garden shredder, perhaps brick work or fence building/repairing, perhaps rotavating the ground or even putting in more top soil, however if the garden is cleared and well prepared this will make the planting and maintaining easier.

It is important to be committed to the project and not to take on too much, know your limitations but perhaps most importantly get out into the fresh air and enjoy it.