Spring is practically upon us, so now’s the time to check that you have everything ready to create a garden to enjoy and be proud of throughout the summer. Caroline Turner, our expert at Sam Turner & Sons, spells out what essentials you should have in your shed before your garden bursts into life.

Trowel, hand fork, dibber, ground rake, border spade, garden fork:

Burgon and Ball's range of garden tools blend practicality with beautiful design. The Sophie Conran range trowel, hand fork and compost scoop are in constant use in my greenhouse and veg garden. A dibber is a brilliant tool for making holes when planting out seedlings, onion sets or garlic. Heavier work means a sharp spade and garden fork, ideal for splitting plants and digging planting holes.
All tools should be cleaned and sharpened - ideally at the end of the season - but if you haven't got around to it, now will do. A wash with hot soapy water, then a clean with mineral oil and wire wool, and a rub over the cutting edges with a sharpening stone, will do wonders to get your tools back in peak condition.

The Northern Echo:

Seed compost, multi-purpose compost, grit, perlite or vermiculite:

Seeds germinate best in a simple, light seed compost which isn't too heavy or nutrient rich. John Innes No. 1 is the classic choice. Once they have germinated they can be pricked out and potted on, and a multi-purpose compost mixed with vermiculite or perlite will suffice now. A top dressing of horticultural grit will retain moisture and deter pests such as slugs and snails.

Seed trays and covers, small pots:

You can never have enough little pots if you're growing from seed. Trays with individual cells for a deeper root run mean you get neat little plugs of seedlings to pot on or plant out. Small pots are essential - make sure they're washed clean if you're re-using last year's pots. I find a large seed tray corrals the small pots and makes them easier to move about and turn to get maximum light. A transparent cover while they are germinating protects the pots from pests, but remember to give them air as soon as you start to see germination, or the seedlings may well rot.

Plant supports, canes and string:

Large, heavy plants like peonies and delphiniums should have supports put in place now before they have too much growth on them - either decorative metal supports like those from Tom Chambers, or simply a frame of bamboo canes and string, which will prevent the top-heavy flower heads from falling over. Nutscene garden twine is a traditional favourite and comes in a range of colours - it's an absolute essential, along with a handy pair of small scissors to keep with the twine.