Sheena Patterson of Oxford Garden Design takes a bus man’s holiday to visit garden centre

Unsurprisingly, I’m no stranger to the garden centres of Oxfordshire and of course this is the busiest time of year to visit one.

As I have an intense dislike of crowds, I surprised myself last weekend by allowing my very persuasive sister-in-law to drag me along to a popular local plant nursery for a jolly little busman’s sunny bank holiday.

By the time we arrived (mid-morning) we were politely directed to the overspill car park, a bad omen, thought I. However, undaunted, my sister-in-law marched straight for the queue to the ladies loo, and half an hour later we finally got to the plants section.

Rather predictably the menfolk, including my brother, had headed straight for the boys toys section ie garden tools to have a play.

It’s important to handle, and if possible, try equipment before making a decision, as tools come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, as well as prices.

There was long deliberation over the weight of the spades, the sharpness of the secateurs and the exact length of the lawn shears.

We now have yet another wheelbarrow tucked up in our new man cave at the bottom of the garden. I’m unsure how many a man needs but in our case it seems to be a lot.

Like most good businesses garden centres diversify their products to attract a wide assortment of people. It was interesting to note that very few were actually browsing in the plants section, and those that that were there, were women.

Of course it is a little early to be choosing bedding plants, or non-hardy annuals, just yet, unless you have some sort of shelter to house them in case of frost.

In rural areas you can usually plant these tender plants in about mid-May, in town and city centres you may get away with it a week or two earlier. In either case, keep an eye on the weather forecast, a hard frost will kill.

When choosing bedding plants, the leaves should be firm and free from holes and spots. Growth should be bushy and avoid plants that look thin and drawn as a result of being raised in too little light and too much heat. There should be no roots growing through the bottom of the seed tray or pot, and young plants should NOT be in full flower. Wherever possible buy a whole box or pot, rather than a clump of loose plants, which may dry out before you have chance to transplant them.

The soil in the box or pot should be moist.

Whether you are planning to buy plants or tools, this spring some garden centres, particularly those in the National Garden Centre Association, give guarantees on hardy plants that fail to grow (providing they have received reasonable care) and have trained staff to give sound advice.

And please heed my advice to wait a bit longer before bed-time.