As you gaze out onto your brown patch of heaven-in-the-making keep in mind that heaven was not created in a day and you have more to do with the ultimate appearance of it than Mother Nature.

This is a perfect time of year to start planting up containers for added colour, fragrance and character in your yard.  If there is a threat of frost or snow that might damage them between now and the last frost of the season, no worries.  Just drag your newly planted containers under cover or into the garage at night.  For this reason I start by planting the large pots and urns at the front of our house this time of year - the extended awning and our porch are protected from a frost down to about minus 5.

Be sure that you plant in new potting soil- the old stuff from last year can be placed in the garden and raked out there.  Don't throw it out.

There are many colourful plants in at garden retailers now, as they begin to stock up for Mother's day which is only a few days away now.  More hanging baskets and flowers are sold around this special occasion than any other time of year.

After planting be sure to water thoroughly. Apply the new once-and-done plant food specifically formulated for container grown flowers.  As it rains or you apply water to the plants a mild solution of fertilizer will filter down to the root zone of the plants.  No need to mix or make a mess!"