Peter Dowdall: Don't be fooled by the pet days of March and early April

What happens at night still matters more than what happens at midday. Temperatures are still fluctuating, and cold snaps, even light frosts,  are still very much part of the picture

Alpine wallflower or Erysimum golden gem: 'We must remember we are still in spring and not let recent pet days fool us into thinking of summer too early,' warns Peter Dowdall. File picture

There's a particular kind of day we get in March that can catch even experienced gardeners off guard. The sky clears, the sun has a bit of strength to it, and suddenly the whole place feels full of life and new possibilities. You venture outside without a coat, get stuck into something and spend a bit longer outside than you intended, and before you know it, enthusiasm runs away with you, and you’re thinking, right, today’s the day to get going.

After months of cold, wet weather and short days, it's harder to resist the temptation to get more stuck in. A bit of warmth feels like it’s here to stay.