EASTER marks two significant events in the property calendar: the beginning of the DIY and gardening seasons. Inclement conditions will see us finally getting round to fixing that wobbly banister/cracked tile/ wonky shelf; or, if we’re blessed with sunshine, we’ll venture, for the first time in months, into the wilderness that was once the garden. Anyone who has observed this rite in the past will, however, know that things never quite go according to plan. Nothing a spot of web guidance can’t remedy.

www.diyfixit.co.uk and www.diydoctor.org.uk have tips on a range of subjects ranging from Artex and woodworm to tiling and insulation. DIY Doctor also has a Q&A forum where qualified tradesmen give advice. Don’t fancy getting your hands dirty? www.0800handyman.co.uk is one of a number of companies that does the odd jobs you hate. The company receives numerous requests from the wives of DIY-deficient husbands, who need an expert to come and finish the jobs their spouses didn’t quite get round to completing. No job is too small — when one client discovered that her chopping board was too large for the dishwasher, 0800handyman was called in to chop it in half. The service is available only in London and the South East; there is a £20 callout charge and it costs £20 for each further half hour.

For absolutely everything you could ever want to know about gardens, go to www.garden.org — website of the American National Gardening Association. There is a plant finder, plenty of expert advice and “how to” guides.

If you are a bit of a rookie, check out the guides at Times Online. Beginner gardeners should go to www.timesonline.co.uk/novicegardener ; or for aspirant vegetable growers there’s www.timesonline.co.uk/allotmentcentral . Should your yield prove something to boast about, send your pictures to gardens@timesonline.co.uk , and we’ll showcase those trophy turnips and prize winning parsnips online. LUCIA ADAMS lucia.adams@timesonline.co.uk

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