You can almost feel it being shaken off, the winter. There are the winds in March, then stillness. Gradually we shed layers, marvel at the lengthening evenings and remember our growing spaces, finding ourselves keen to dabble.

Spring is, traditionally, a time of great gardening fervor. We mow lawns, plant trees and dig beds. Sowing seeds happens once the vernal equinox passes, and suddenly it’s all growth and leaf until late summer. It’s easier than you might think and you don’t need much: an old yogurt container or plastic tomato tray, a handful of soil, a few seeds, a sunny windowsill and some TLC. See what turns up.

Outside, I’ll be planting grasses. The spring is a good time to lift and divide these elegant perennials, which harness their energy beneath the ground over winte...