I’ve already begun my feeding regime to ensure the garden looks its very best for my open days this summer. I tend to go overboard and feed everything.

I have many shrubs, both deciduous and evergreen woody plants. They provide a variety of fragrant flowers, berries, autumn colour, foliage and coloured stems. In addition, they add shape and a basic structural framework to my garden and provide shelter and a great food source for wildlife. There are some that lose their leaves only in very cold weather (semi-evergreen). Whatever they are, they get fed in my garden throughout the season.

I use a well-known brand available through a TV Shopping channel. The results I get from it every year are amazing. The product is soluble, I water by hand, with a watering can, every plant and shrub throughout the garden, a task that can take me up to six hours to feed everything. You don’t have to be so meticulous but feeding will help get the best from your plants.

READ MORE: Time to prune the roses and tidy the hydrangeas

Next week, I’ll be delivering the first talk about my garden since early 2020. It is going to seem quite strange getting back into the swing of it all. At present, I have two more scheduled for the autumn as well. So if your garden club or horticultural society is looking for speakers in the coming months, give me a shout. Over the years I’ve presented almost 110, I charge £85 plus expenses and all my fees are donated to Macmillan Cancer Support.

This weekend you could visit an interesting National Garden Scheme plot in Groombridge, Penns in the Rocks. It opens tomorrow, Sunday, from 2pm to 6pm with entry £7. It is a large garden with a spectacular outcrop of rocks, 140 million years old. There will be plenty of bluebells and daffodils on view, along with the 18th century temple and walled garden. It’s cash only on the day – pay at the gate. Details at www.ngs.org.uk

Looking good in my garden this week are the beautiful, architectural leaves of my two gunnera, slowly emerging, with their large, umbrella-like leaves. Gunneras are some of the largest and most impressive plants that can be grown in the UK. They can grow up to 2.5m high and 4m wide. The best known is Gunnera manicata, which has huge leaves that can reach 2m wide. It’s commonly known as giant rhubarb, this giant however is definitely not edible, but it is a spectacular plant with enormous, architectural foliage. Mine are the more compact variety and look magnificent in large containers by the pond.

Read more of Geoff’s garden at www.driftwoodbysea.co.uk