From the Garden with Margaret Wilson from Pacifica Garden Centre

Spring is just around the corner and some early-flowering magnolias are already in bloom. If you have a small garden, many varieties are not for you – however, your local garden centre can recommend some compact growers.

Michaelias, cousins to magnolias, have lovely varieties for the smaller garden and large containers.

One vital task to be done shortly is to get a copper spray onto peaches and nectarines, including ornamental varieties – to combat the unsightly leaf curl fungus. The window of opportunity is small – one dose when flower buds are showing a touch of colour and a second does when leaves are just starting to show green. Miss this critical timing and you will have to wait until next year.

A group of native plants we don't often give enough attention are corokias. Interesting rather than showy, they are tough and hardy – even close to the coast – and completely indifferent to soil conditions. They're very easily established, and, as a bonus, their prolific crops of berries will keep the bird population well fed.

Due to inclement gardening weather I've recently wasted, in a most enjoyable way, a couple of hours that I will never get back.

I typed ‘Royal Horticultural Society' into my computer where one click led to another and a whole new world opened up. As Mr Dilmar says: ‘Do try it!' Just remember our August is roughly their March – so adjust your thinking accordingly, and enjoy!