'Essential' beginner-friendly gardening jobs that take less than an hour to do

If you're feeling a bit lost about where to start with your garden, experts suggest beginning with these six simple tasks. As the warmer start to creep in, many of us are eager to get our gardens ready for summer enjoyment.

Keen and seasoned are likely already well into their spring to-do list, but if you're more of a beginner and unsure where to start, these expert tips have got you covered. There are six tasks that you can start your journey with, and the best part is each of them should take less than an hour to complete.

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This means you can easily spruce up your green space, whether by setting aside a little time to do one of these tasks over several days, tackling one each weekend, or if you're feeling particularly ambitious, you could even manage all of these in a single day.

Experts from Express Bi-Folding Doors and Dobbie Garden Centre have teamed up to provide the best starter tasks for novice gardeners this spring. From tidying the lawn to refreshing potted plants, use this as your checklist and you'll see your green space completely transformed.

First things first, give your garden a proper tidy-up before you start any planting. This is the "essential first step when it comes to preparing for the summer, and if you have been maintaining your garden throughout the winter months".

But if you've let your outdoor space slide in an attempt to dodge the chilly weather, don't fret.

"One of the quickest and simplest ways to tidy up your garden is by removing dead leaves, neatening your beds and borders for the growing season, removing weeds and applying a good layer of mulch over the surface with organic compost," say the experts.

They also note that "not only will mulching help tidy up the appearance of your garden, but it will break down into the soil and give your plants a nutrient boost for spring."

Moving on to lawns, they need some extra care at this time of year. Before diving into mowing and seeding, there's one absolutely crucial job: clearing away any debris from your grass.

Once the weather perks up in your area, you can begin raking out dead grass and any encroaching moss. Hold off on treatments until it gets warmer, and for now, just concentrate on cleaning up the lawn of any litter, which should take about 15-30 minutes for a standard-sized garden, or maybe an hour for those with more expansive green spaces.

For those green-fingered enthusiasts, Nigel Lawton, a gardening expert, shares some speedy tips for beginners tackling potted plant care. It's the perfect chance to splash a bit of colour around your garden or patio - and it's ideal for balcony owners too.

Nigel suggests focusing on pot colour coordination as a simple trick to enhance your outdoor area.

Why not greet the season in style? "Primroses, Pansies, or Violas can be effective in spring to welcome the new season," Nigel states. Their cool hues will sing in harmony in your garden.

He advises planting in groups of three pots, mixing up the sizes and heights for an eye-catching display that really packs a punch.

Garden gurus also put tidying up your patio high on the to-do list. A patio isn't just paving; it's where friends gather, or you unwind with a book when the weather's fair.

Kick things off by getting that surface spick and span. If you don’t own a jet washer, never fear - elbow grease, a stiff broom, and trusty water bucket work wonders.

And here's a thought: Pair garden furniture with an outdoor rug, Nigel proposes, creating an inviting retreat outdoors. Adding a few colourful cushions and some snug throws will surely elevate your relaxation game to next-level snug.

As spring blooms, it's time to get creative with your garden's design - planning now can make all the difference later on. Kick-off by tidying up any winter flora that's past its prime, experts suggest, trimming back to pave the way for summer's showcase: "trim back any winter flowering plants where blooms have started to fade.

Start by removing any dead, diseased, or damaged branches, and get rid of any branches that cross over or adding pressure against each other".

This bit of pruning not only cleans up your borders but gives you a real sense of the space you have to play with. For the likes of your Buddleia, Lavatera, and hardy Fuschias, it's about encouraging vibrant new growth, so snip away: "summer flowering shrubs like Buddleia, Lavatera, and hardy Fuschias to allow room for new growth.

As well as encouraging new growth in the plant by removing dead material, pruning will also allow you to control the height and shape of your plants."

Don't forget the critters that keep your garden thriving. Turning a wee patch into wildlife haven doesn't just tick the biodiversity box - it's easy peasy.

Just pop down some bee-friendly plants and stack a little branch pile in a shady spot for instant animal appeal: "stacking branches in a shaded spot to help protect them from the elements. All of this can be done in under an hour."