Compost doesn't just give life to the soil and the plants that grow in it. Apparently, research has also shown that it has healing powers. "Compost tea", containing more than a million micro-organisms per millilitre, can slow the spread of disease when sprayed onto sickly plants. To make the tea, soak one part compost in five parts water for about 10 days. When it is ready, it will pong to high heaven. Strain off the liquid and spray onto plants, taking care to wet both sides of the leaves.
While the tea is infusing, it's time to do a spot of spring pruning to pep up shrubs that flower on this year's growth. The vigorous Buddleia davidii can be cut back to a third, as can many of the lavateras, abutilons and hardy fuchsias. Shrubs grown for their coloured winter stems, such as the dogwoods and willows, should be coppiced now, that is, cut back to within a few inches from the base.