Planting
· Think about what flowering plants you are going to sow towards the end of the month. Hardy plants like cornflowers and chrysanthemum will be fine outside but it may help to warm the soil up first with a cloche or fleece before planting outside.

Maintenance
· Slugs will start attacking your hostas and delphiniums so if you haven't got your controls in place (be they pellets, gravel, oatmeal, mulching or beer!) do so now.

· Any herbaceous plants you have that need supports will look far better later in the year if you position the canes now. Let the plants grow around the canes and then tie them in. If you leave it too late the cane won't blend in and your prize plants will look like they are tied up.

· The weeds in my garden are coming back with a vengeance! My tip is keep well on top of them (which I obviously did not do last year) so they don't set seed later in the year or spread beyond control.

· The lawn is starting to grow like mad and will need cutting more and more regularly. When mowing and raking up cuttings make sure the grass is dry. If it's wet, this will damage the grass and you may end up with bald patches and a muddy mess.

· Now is an ideal time to lay or sow a new lawn. And remember to keep it regularly fed and weeded.

Read on for more April maintenance and pruning tips from Sven, plus how to ask him a question of your own.