If you want to create an oasis of calm in your garden a great way to do this is to have distinct areas in the garden that have different themes. It can be difficult to relax and find a spot to hide away if you are always in view.

You don’t have to have a large garden to do this. Some well placed planting and the addition of a garden bench at the end of the garden can create the space you need to sit and read your book on a warm summer’s day.

Another way to do this is to separate the a garden into two using fencing or walling between the different sections. You could have a heavily planted section in one half of the garden and a lawned, entertaining part of the garden in the other section. You will then have the choice of where to sit depending on your mood.

Water features make excellent additions to a garden design. And with so many different types now available and some as simple as plug-in and play, you can get the relaxing effect that flowing water will bring to your garden really easily.

A water feature might be a small pond that contains a few cold water fish. It could be a fountain that shoots a jet of water into a rock pool, or it could be as simple as a small wildlife pond. The choice is really up to you. And, because of the different types of water feature available you can let your imagination go wild.

If you have a lawn, you need a lawnmower. But there are so many different types available it can be a little difficult to make a definitive decision.

Perhaps the first thing to consider when buying a lawnmower is the size of garden you have. In a small garden a hover mower might suffice. If perhaps you have a very large garden, you might need a ride-on mower.

Secondly, you need to determine how far away from a power source the lawnmower will be used. If you need to cut the lawn some distance from your home, you may need a petrol mower.

If you want to create a striped effect you need to buy a mower with a large ’barrel’ wheel at the back which leaves stripe marks. And, no matter what mower you buy, make sure there is some form of grass collection device so you don’t have to rake the lawn after it has been cut.

If you have a look around on the internet you can usually find great deals on loads of different types of lawnmowers.

It’s never too late to collect your own rainwater and use it on your garden or allotment. Plants prefer rainwater over tap water because of the chemicals added to tap water at the water processing site. And, if you have a water meter you could save yourself hundreds of pounds by using collected rainwater instead of using tap water.

You can buy water butts quite cheaply from DIY stores and tap into the down spout from your gutter. The butt will come with an overflow system and a built in tap so you can use the water whenever you want.

Using collected rainwater also means that water levels in reservoirs across the UK in the summer months will not be depleted, so the chance of a hosepipe ban will be reduced.

So, do your bit for the environment and collect and use rainwater to water your plants.

With temperatures in the UK warming up its time to check your pots and do some thinning out on fruit trees and bushes.

Here are some things you need to do at the beginning of May.

• Feed and water plants as required
• Thin out plants and shoots as needed. Especially fruit trees and bushes.
• Check for pests or disease in your greenhouse
• Shade delicate plants from the mid day sun
• Don’t cut your lawn or water during the heat of the day
• Remove moss and weeds from paths
• Use mulch while you can still see between your plants

If you care for your garden now you will reap the rewards during the summer months.