Fergal Joy, horticulturist at Glanbia Countrylife in Bunclody, explains why your garden could be the perfect stress-busting environment this summer PLUS we’ve got a gorgeous water feature up for grabs for one lucky reader

With remote working becoming the norm for so many of us, our homes are no longer the havens of peace and tranquillity they once were. Sitting at your desk or at the kitchen table at Teams meetings all day can be very stressful. It’s really important at the moment to get out of the house and get into the garden for half an hour or even 20 minutes. Grab a coffee, have a walk around and if you see a few weeds, pull them. You would be amazed at how effective a time-out like that can be when it comes to clearing your head. Even if the weather isn’t good, get out into the air and breathe..

Spring is a great time to assess damage from winter, fix tools, tend to your lawn and make new beds. Follow my top spring gardening tips for a beautiful garden this summer:

• Get rid of moss – Products like Mo Bacter Lawn Moss Remover or Moss Master won’t blacken your lawn and don’t need to be raked out; they’ll just kill the moss and feed your lawn.
• Prune – Any spring flowering shrubs that have finished flowering will need a light pruning before you start feeding them, so they produce new flower buds next spring.
•  Veg – If you’re planning to grow vegetables, now’s the time to get the ground ready. Pull the weeds and mix a good organic fertiliser into the soil. You’ll then be ready to start planting in the next week or two once the frost is gone.
• Check your tools – Make sure your lawnmower, hedge cutters and chainsaws are all in good working order so that when you go looking for them, they’re ready to go. If you’re doing the first cut of your lawn, make sure it’s on the highest setting to avoid weakening the grass and letting moss and weeds take over.
• Get the kids involved – Let the kids choose a few plants and get going on your summer bedding plants, hanging baskets and window boxes. It might take a bit longer to get these jobs done, but they make for a great family activity!
• Feed your roses – now is a good time to start feeding your roses once a month until July. You should also be spraying them every two weeks to help combat aphids and mildew. Now is also a great time to give your evergreen shrubs a light pruning to get growth under control before summer.