We get a lot of phone calls from eager customers early in the Spring season who are ready to sow their Cotswold Seeds but don't know whether soil is warm enough for germination to be effective.

This handy graphic should explain everything you need to know in a very simple format to make sure you don't plant your grasses or legumes too soon.

You can test the temperature of the soil with a thermomenter, inserted to a depth of about 5cm. It's best to re-test after a couple of days to ensure consistency as an overnight frost, for instance, will cause a temporary dip.