Just gardening: what to do in spring

Just gardening: what to do in spring

With the temperature rising, nature commences its cycle of life for another year. Spring has finally sprung, so it’s time to get out in the garden and enjoy the fresh air.

Caring for the ecosystem right on your doorstep can help arrest the effects of climate change...  

There are loads of reasons to make the most of your garden. Caring for the ecosystem right on your doorstep can help arrest the effects of climate change — a topic that has received a huge amount of attention recently, thanks to the David Attenborough documentary on the BBC.

What’s more, getting out in the garden provides wonderful exercise – something that can help you achieve the 150 minutes of weekly activity recommended by the NHS.

So, to inspire your gardening in the weeks ahead, here are some jobs to be going on with.

Home composting

A number of local authorities no longer collect kitchen waste for composting, because it’s too expensive to treat. Along with the ongoing threat to natural peat bogs, there’s never been a better time to create your own compost at home.

Just put all your garden and fresh kitchen waste in a suitable repository (you can buy a plastic compost bin or make your own heap in a quiet corner of the garden) and pretty soon you’ll have your own supply of nutrient-rich compost.

For further advice, check out this handy guide to composting from the Eden Project.

Just gardening: what to do in spring Flower power

Now is the time to plant your summer flowers. Now the threat of frost has largely passed, so you can put them straight into borders, pots or hanging baskets. If planting in borders, dig in a generous amount of compost beforehand, so they have plenty of nutrients to help them grow.

Keep your new flowers well watered and be sure to remove any weeds that grow around them. If you’ve planted in pots or baskets, you should aim to water twice daily, in the morning and evening. That will give your colourful plants every chance to thrive amid the burgeoning heat of summer.

Harden off half-hardy plants

If you’ve planted some stock from seed, now is the time to get the seedlings accustomed to life outside the greenhouse or cold frame.

Over a period of a week, give seedlings around three hours of exposure to sunlight each day. Reduce the amount of watering so that, by the end of the period, the plants are watered first and last thing. Make sure they don’t wilt, however, and be sure to bring them back into shelter if the sun gets strong or the temperature drops.

Gradually leave the seedlings out later in the evening so they get used to the colder temperatures. Within a week or so, you should be able to plant them out, making sure to give them a good feed and keep them moist as they adjust to life in their new home.

Get on top of weeds

It’s a simple fact of a gardener’s life: if you don’t tackle your weeds at the start of the season, you’ll spend the whole summer trying to beat them into submission.

...if you don’t tackle your weeds at the start of the season, you’ll spend the whole summer trying to beat them into submission.  

Get down on your hands and knees to clear weeds from borders, beds and pathways. Be especially assiduous in areas where you’re planting new flowers or seedlings. Every weed left in place will reduce the chances of new planting thriving, by sucking energy and moisture from the soil.

Once you’ve completed your first battle with the weeds, go back to where you started and remove any new arrivals. You’ll never stop weeds from growing, but by keeping on top of them, you can minimise their impact as the summer progresses.         

Look after your lawn

Show your lawn some love by applying lawn weed killer and removing any humps or divots. It’s easy to take out an unsightly lump: just dig around the edge and peel off the turf. Then remove the surplus soil and fold the turf flap back into place. Press the edges into position and give it a slug of water.

Meanwhile, use the surplus soil to fill in divots. Sprinkle grass seed over the top, taking care to match the species with your existing lawn. Cover large areas with netting to keep the birds at bay.

Then, voila, you’ll have a flat, green lawn. Anyone for croquet?

 

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Published: 6 March 2025
© Copyright Just Recruitment Group Ltd 2025

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Service Engineer (Gas Safe)
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: Discussed on application
Location: Guildford
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: TB15
About the role

Just Recruitment is currently recruiting for a Service Engineer, ideally located in the Guildford area, to cover South East London and the South East England region.

The role will involve carrying out routine servicing and maintenance, including filter changes and breakdown repairs, across a wide range of company units. You will need to have a good level of physical fitness and be comfortable working at heights.

Occasional call-out cover will also be required to support a key local customer.

Key requirements include:

  • Must have a full driving licence
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  • CDGA 1 ACS accreditations
  • Electrical/Mechanical/Engineering background required
  • Experience with gas/oil burners
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  • Ability to use initiative and have excellent customer liaison skills

The benefits package includes:

  • Competitive salary depending on experience, overtime, paid door to door (at 1.5x (travel included)
  • Company Vehicle
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  • Pension
  • Private Health Scheme
  • 25 Days Holidays

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
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Electrical Maintenance Engineer (Days)
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: Discussed on application
Location: Braintree, Essex
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: TB22
About the role

Just Recruitment is currently recruiting an Electrical Maintenance Engineer for their client based in Braintree, Essex.

The purpose of this role is to take a proactive approach to preventing equipment failure and to ensure that all planned preventative maintenance (PM) schedules are completed effectively and on time.

You will work as an integral part of the maintenance team, supporting the achievement of quality, waste reduction, efficiency, and KPI targets, while ensuring all Health & Safety procedures are adhered to at all times.

Working hours: Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 4.30pm.
20 days holiday rising to 25 days for every year worked, plus bank holidays.
The company operates a 1:3 call-out system.

Qualifications and job skills required:

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Desirable skills:

  • PLC, hydraulics, temperature control, instrumentation, welding, FLT/MEWP licence.
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Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
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Sector: Accountancy, Banking and Finance
Salary: Competitive
Location: Sudbury
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913741
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Just Recruitment is supporting a growing, sector-leading business in Sudbury that is looking for a Part-Time Finance Manager to join their team.

The key purpose of this role is to manage the Finance Department and to support senior management in all areas of finance and accounting, reporting directly to the MD and being responsible for an Accounts Assistant.

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This is a part-time role - working 20 - 25 hours per week - this role is office-based, and the ideal candidate will be able to work Tuesdays and Thursdays, but hours can be flexible.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a lovely business, with a great ethos and a long-standing team.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
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Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: Competitive
Location: North West
Role: Full Time
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Job ref: 913740
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Just Recruitment is working with a growing, industry-leading business seeking to add a Field Service Engineer to its team. This role will cover the North West region, including Manchester, Lancashire, and the surrounding areas.

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To be considered for this exciting role, you must be able to demonstrate a background working in a field service or technical support role, gained within a capital equipment environment. You should be qualified to a minimum of level 3 or above in electrical installation/engineering/maintenance or another relevant technical discipline with 3 years’ experience. Alternatively, a gold card electrician would be considered along with 2391 testing and inspection.

Applicants are welcome from a wide range of equipment backgrounds.

You must have impeccable customer service skills and a confident and professional manner in customer-facing environments.

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  • Some overnight stays are required.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a world-class organisation.

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  • Joining a national team of Field Service personnel who take great pride in their work and who aim to build upon long-term relationships with customers.
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For those with the desire, there are opportunities to progress your career within the department and into the wider company.

In return, you will benefit from dedicated product training, recognised by the industry, which will run on an ongoing basis as new products are introduced. A generous remuneration package is also guaranteed, including a competitive salary, company healthcare package, contributory pension scheme, phone, and laptop, along with the opportunity to progress your career within a market-leading organisation.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
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Electrical Maintenance Engineer
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: Discussed on application
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Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: TB25
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You will need to have an electrical bias and ideally have experience in an industrial or manufacturing environment.

The key objective of this role is to support the efficient operation of production facilities.

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  • Experience with CNC machinery is essential as a significant part of the role involves performing preventative and reactive maintenance on CNC machinery, including diagnostics and repair of control systems (Fanuc, Siemens, Hurco), and overseeing calibrations.
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Qualifications:

An electrical engineering qualification such as City & Guilds, HNC/HND, or equivalent is essential.

Hours:

39 hour working week: Monday to Thursday, 7am - 4pm and Friday 7am - 12pm.

This role offers Excellent Benefits, including:

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Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

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