Tidy up the garden for spring

1. Refresh a painted wooden tabletop: If a wooden tabletop has been exposed to the elements, the underside may be in better condition so turn it over. Spray rusty screws with release oil and leave overnight. If they still prove stubborn choose a screwdriver to match the screw head, insert, hold it firmly upright, and give it a sharp blow with a hammer.

2. Make good the tabletop: Turn the top over and secure with screws, drilling pilot holes first. Brass screws aren’t as strong as steel ones so always make a pilot hole first. To avoid breaking the brass screw, first drive in a steel one, then remove it and insert the brass one. Remove any peeling or flaking paint, smooth the surface with glasspaper, then repaint.

3. Give the shed a fresh coat of paint: Check paintwork on sheds and cladding as untreated wood is vulnerable to decay. If worn, remove flaky paint and sand the surface. Wash with sugar soap and water and allow to dry. Choose a fine day for painting, and delay if rain is forecast within 24 hours. This shade is Forget Me Not by Cuprinol (cuprinol.co.uk).

4. Revive battered metal furniture: This metal chair has been left on the lawn all winter – next year cut down on maintenance jobs by putting outdoor furniture under cover. Clean up the surface and scrape away loose and flaking paint before applying two coats of metal paint. If your chair is an aluminium alloy, as this is, it will need to be primed first.

5. Clean down a wooden bench: Wooden furniture with a coating of mould or green algae should be scrubbed with a stiff bristled brush dipped in warm soapy water. In extreme cases scrape growth away first. Add a little bleach to the final rinsing water and leave on overnight to kill the spores – do this away from plants and not on the lawn.

6. Enhance the colour of the bench: Once thoroughly dry, apply outdoor furniture oil with a soft brush (pure tung oil is recommended for oak). Allow oil to penetrate for 20 minutes and wipe away any surplus with a rag. Repeat. Apply three coats, or more on very porous timber. The oil will enhance the colour of the wood and protect it from the elements.

7. Clear greenery from the patio: Moss and algae on paths and terraces can be slippery. Hire a pressure washer or use a hose and stiff bristled yard brush to clean it. A pressure washer is an effective tool but very powerful so take care with old bricks and tiles to ensure that you don’t damage the surface. I hired mine from Jewson (jewsons.com).

8. Rake gravel to clear away weeds: Weeds are opportunists and will quickly take root in gravel if there is no WeedBlock or similar barrier beneath to separate the gravel from the soil. Discourage plant growth by raking the gravel from time to time – I use a leaf rake. Collect and take away old leaves and vegetation, too, to stop it clogging up the stones.