WITH the days getting longer and warmer, our thoughts are finally turning to our outdoor spaces.
And now spring is upon us, for some of us tackling the garden will be our main priority.
Typically, daffodils bloom in our gardens between February and May.
And The Sun’s gardening expert Veronica Lorraine believes now is the time to start deheading them, to ensure a great bloom next year.
She says: “As we move into Tulip time - yay! - our daffodils start looking a bit worse for wear. So it's time to start deadheading them.
“Not only does this make everything look a bit neater and nicer, but it stops the plant wasting precious energy on trying to maintain the petals.
“Just snip the heads off just under the bulbous seed bit.
"The most frustrating part is that you really must leave the leaves - they're absorbing much needed sunlight back to the bulbs so they'll grow again next year.
“Some people suggest tying them in knots to minimise the unsightly spread.
"But now it’s recommended not to do that as it minimises photosynthesis.
"It may be controversial and I’m sure people will disagree, but when they flop all over the grass it stops the grass growing and I find that really frustrating.
"So I find it very therapeutic to sit on the grass and plait them.
“The most important thing is to let them die back naturally - to prevent daffodil blindness next year - which is when you get tons of leaves but no flowers.”
And how else should we prepare our gardens for the spring season without spending a fortune? Veronica believes it’s simple.
She says: “Did you know that there’s really no need to start splashing the cash to get our gardens growing?
“With a bit of careful planning, it’s possible to use everyday household items for under a pound, to stunning effect.”
Here, Veronica reveals to YASMIN HARISHA the budget busting ways of getting the most out of your garden for the least amount of cash.
Take a 70p two litre cola bottle from Lidl, and wash it out when it's finished.
Cut the top off and turn it over to use it as a mini greenhouse for your pot plants.
Just remember to water under it - and if it gets really hot give the plant a breather, otherwise they will wilt and die.
Or you can use a small 48p water bottle from your local corner shop.
Take the lid off and cut the bottom off, then bury it neck down by your plants ,with the open bottom facing upwards.
Then water your plant by pouring it straight into the upside down bottle. This way it doesn’t waste water, and gets right to where it needs to be.
Once you’ve used your 99p mushrooms for cooking - reuse the plastic tray they came in for your seeds.
Just make sure there’s a few holes in the bottom and fill it with compost - to make a perfect alternative to buying new pots.
If you’re struggling with dogs urinating on your hedges as they play in the garden, use a bottle of 35p concentrated lemon or lime juice mixed with water to make a repellent spray.
Used liberally, it should put off any passing dog from going there again.
Eggs - which cost just 43p each in Tesco’s - can be used in all sorts of ways. Crunch up the shell to scatter around plants - which should deter those pesky slugs.
And some experts claim that completely crushed eggs added to soil will help improve the levels of calcium, which is great for plants. Although you’d need a lot of eggs to make a noticeable difference.
There’s all sorts of sprays that you can make from crushing 24p garlic, and combining with a bit of store cupboard cayenne pepper and chilli oil with water.
If you spray it on your plants this should also deter slugs and other pests from eating your favourite flowers.
One of my neighbours swears by throwing her used 20p banana peel into her garden beds every morning and kicking a bit of soil over it.
The thinking is that eventually it will break down and add potassium to the soil which helps with root growth and plant reproduction.
One absolutely tried and tested hack is to dig a trench in your garden bed and fill it with all the fruit and vegetable scraps from your compost bin - then cover it back with soil.
This is a bonafide FREE way to improve your soil, and help plants grow as it all rots down.
Use a bottle of 35p white vinegar mixed with a bit of water to use as a greenhouse cleaner - with a bit of elbow grease it really gets the glass sparkling!
The Sun's gardening expert Veronica Lorraine says:
And while you’ve got your vinegar out - you can also spray it on weeds - they hate it!
It might not kill them right down to their roots the first time, but combine it with occasionally pouring boiling water on them straight from the kettle, and they’re going to wilt away very quickly.
Fill your old 34p finished toilet rolls with compost to plant sweet peas seeds in - instead of forking out on new modules.
And it's also been claimed that ground cinnamon protects seedlings against rot - so there’s no harm in getting a 34p packet from Lidl and sprinkling it gently around your new little plants pushing up through the soil.
