Now is the time to get your garden into shape before summer, and this simple gardening job needs to be done before Easter.

You should start pruning and clean up fallen debris before the weather gets warmer.

With the arrival of spring, it's time to get out your garden shears and start pruning. Begin by removing any branches damaged by winter frost, then proceed to prune shrubs and trees as needed. 

Be mindful not to prune plants that rely on old wood for new flower buds. 

Once pruning is complete, take the opportunity to clean up fallen debris from your lawn, garden soil, and any water features in your garden.

If you do plan to prune your garden soon, you should exercise restraint as few shrubs need pruning in mid-April and many will resent an attack.

But this isn’t the only garden job you should do around this time of year.

You should also look to do some spring weeding. Before diving into planting, it's essential to tackle the weeds which will have inevitably taken root during the winter months. 

It’s best to use a combination of manual and chemical weeding methods, focusing on pulling weeds out from the root to prevent regrowth. 

For larger areas, such as vegetable patches, consider using gardening tools to quickly clear the space and dislodge stubborn roots.

According to the National Trust, March and April are good months to plant perennials, sow hardy annuals such as marigolds, and plant summer-flowering bulbs, including lilies and gladioli.

If you’re also hoping to plant some vegetables, you can start planting potatoes and onions and sowing hardy vegetables, including broad beans, cabbages, carrots, radishes, lettuce, rocket and spinach. 

If you have a greenhouse, early spring is a great time to get it in shape. 

Now is the ideal time to disinfect the windows and surfaces to prepare it for young plants and seeds you plan on sowing. 

Remember, there’s still a risk of frost in spring, but a greenhouse or cold frame is a good way to get a head start on planting at this time of year.

By doing these simple garden tips now, you can ensure your garden will be in great shape for summer.