The start of the year always brings that rush of excitement – the knowledge that spring is on its way, and with it the opportunity to get back out into the garden. We have a number of tasks that we need to be getting on with, although it feels like it’s more a case of dodging the cold and wet weather.

It’s time to tidy up the garden. We’re keen to be as green as we can be, so we recycle as much as possible – and the rest goes onto the compost heap. This year, we’re looking to use our apple tree prunings as plant supports in the borders, and we’ve also donated some to a neighbour whose children have rabbits – you can give rabbits fresh twigs and branches to chew on once in a while and apple is safe for them. We never deadhead winter bedding too early or sweep away all the leaves, as these provide a haven for insects during the cold times.

When we had people round over Christmas, they spilled out onto the decking outside our house, and we realised just how slippery it had become due to a build-up of algae. We’ve tackled this with the ecofective® Path, Patio and Decking Cleaner, which has shown impressive results within just days of application. Mix it to three parts water and apply – we decided to use a paint brush as our decking hasn’t had much maintenance over recent years. It is possible to spray it on, and let it do its work. There’s no scrubbing required, you just apply it and wait to see the results – in days. We could soon see the impact, as the cleaner worked on removing the covering of slippery algae.

We’ve also used it to clean the outside of our shed, and also on our greenhouse. With minimal impact on the environment, it meets our requirement to be green and can also be used all year round – even when it’s as cold as it is now!

Now we have more light getting into the greenhouse, this weekend’s tasks include sowing some snapdragons, chillies and lettuces. Because it’s still a little early for these, we’re giving them a boost with ecofective® Rootplus 3in1, which helps the strong development of root systems, reduces the need for watering and also includes fertiliser to help growth. Whats more, this product is child and pet safe, as is the Path Patio and Decking Cleaner when dry. Now bring on spring!