Peter Dowdall: The switch which drives us gardeners outside has gone off once more

Plants that bloom later in the summer rather than in spring can generally be pruned now

Butterfly bush. If you’ve grown this before, you’ll know it can become a bit of a wild beast if left to its own devices. Picture: iStock

At this time of year, you can almost feel the garden waking up. There’s a sense of movement in the air, with the days stretching out, the birds getting busier, and green shoots pushing their way through the soil.

The switch has gone off in all of us which drives us outside once more. And with that comes so much enthusiasm to get active in the garden. But be careful, no need to get over-active with the secateurs or trimmer.