Beechgrove Garden star George Anderson reveals his 10 simple tips to save your outdoor space after winter

Green-fingered Brits are starting to refresh their gardens for the new season as temperatures creep up and the days get longer after a harsh, wet winter.

And Beechgrove Garden star George Anderson, 80, has revealed his top 10 simple tips for reclaiming your outdoor space after months of braving rain, snow and freezing cold.

The frosty months would have made the soil really hard work – especially in George’s native Scotland – but without being looked after the soil won’t do much good for whatever you’re planting, so it’s good to get started while you can.

Talking to The sunthe presenter of 19 years of advice included digging what you can and looking after frosty mornings.

Here, FEMAIL lists his crucial tips for staying on top of your bush…

Dig when you can

The BBC favorite urged gardeners to fork over their soil as soon as possible – because if the soil is just sitting wet, it won’t be able to warm up in the sun the way it can once you’ve turned it up.

George said the sign to then start planting is when you see the first weed sprout, as this signals the soil has warmed to the desired temperature.

First on his running order of crops to sow are parsnips, as they take longer to germinate, then things like peas and beans.

As the weather continues to warm, you can sow carrots and cauliflower.

Beware of frost

George warned of the ‘false spring’ when we could be swept away by a few warm days – only to be thrown back into a cold snap.

Scotland can still see frost well into May, so if you’re putting seedlings out in the next few months, you should be ahead of the game by wrapping them in some horticultural fleece just in case.

A cold night can ruin all the hard work before it if you leave your seeds unprotected.

Trim bushes

In April, George recommends limited pruning in favor of just a light trim to get the bushes in shape.

“Everybody goes crazy with their shears and then wonders why their fuchsia never bloomed,” he shared The sun. ‘That’s because you cut off all the buds!’

Plan carefully

The 80-year-old advised sitting in the garden once a week to just look at the space and imagine different things you could do with it.

While all gardeners enjoy working in their outdoor haven, you’ll also want to spend time taking it all in, especially as the weeks go by and the weather improves.

Revive your flowers

For established flowers in borders, the garden expert recommended cutting them back to an inch above ground level and fork around them.

Then feed the flowers with a balanced fertilizer and plant food to make up for all the nutrients lost over the winter and the flowers will regrow for the next cycle.

George even suggested dividing larger clumps of flowers with a spade and giving them to friends to avoid overcrowding your own borders.

Start mulching

“This is the time to buy mulch,” George told the outlet, as it keeps you from having to water plants as much later in the year.

He recommended a used mushroom compost – which can be bought cheaply in bulk – or shredded farmyard manure.

This stops moisture evaporation from the soil, to give the plants a good start.

Encourage insects

George reminded readers to allow their lawns to have some life of their own, including making room for wildlife — especially insects — to thrive.

A healthy ecosystem that supports your garden will allow it to thrive. Without insects like bees, but also other creepy crawlies, nothing would grow.

Leave the wasps alone

This acceptance of insects even extends to wasps.

Wasps can help gardeners by eating pests such as aphids, greenflies and caterpillars.

You can leave the prickly irritants until autumn if you absolutely must, advised the Beechgrove Garden host.

Stay away from chemicals

George insisted that he does not use chemical sprays such as pesticides on any of his plants – either in his allotment or his garden.

If he encounters any aphids — shouldn’t wasps keep them at bay — he said he uses a generally harmless soapy solution to get rid of them.

He added: “You are a gardener – there is no need to engage in chemical warfare.”

Another solution George mentioned was to put foil at the bottom of plants to reflect the light back – which deters the insects from their hiding place.

Keep it fresh

Finally, the presenter recommended going to a garden center once a month and getting something that blooms.

This will make you ‘the envy of your friends and neighbours’ as your garden is constantly blooming.

George concluded: “Good luck to everyone in the coming season.”