The first hint of Spring and we’re all it… gardening that is. As the sun slips out so do the lawn-mowers, spades and forks and hedge trimmers and pruning shears and shotguns.

Oops, did I say shotguns? Well, it is true in our case at least – it’s the one that is held to my head to make me cut the lawn.

Joking aside, however, there is nothing like getting into the garden once the weather turns. And once you’ve done the hard work you can sit back, relax and enjoy it.

All of which is by way of introducing this week’s theme – and a quartet of rental properties that have fine gardens… We’ll start by popping out to the delightful village of Alne where we find Holly Bank on Main Street, a substantial five-bedroomed detached house with bags of charm and character. The house has been very sympathetically restored, so while it has lots of mod cons it also retains many of its original period features.

The style starts in an elegant entrance hallway and continues into two delightful front reception rooms. There is a study and downstairs cloaks. And then we move on to the fully fitted modern kitchen, with Aga, naturally, leading into an open plan dining room and family room which features a wood burning stove and has French doors leading to the super rear garden. And what a garden it is, with a sunny patio area, mature trees, long lawns and lots of colourful flower beds and shrubs. Super… Meanwhile, back indoors, on the first floor there are two double bedrooms, a large family bathroom with free standing roll-top bath and separate shower cubicle and a further bedroom. Popping up the next flight of stairs there is a double bedroom, a single bedroom and shower room on the second floor. Great house, great gardens, for which Linley and Simpson are seeking £1,500pcm.

Next, we’re off to Dunnington where, on the Hull Road, we find The Barn, which as its name suggests is a stunning barn conversion. The house offers ample living space including a spacious dining kitchen, and has four bedrooms, one with en-suite facilities. Outside there is a large graveled driveway and a super enclosed rear garden.

The garden is a fine size, mostly laid to lawn and has nice borders and planted areas – what’s more it has a fairly open aspect. Quantum are offering The Barn at £1,500pcm.

From Dunnington we cross to the west of York for our next featured property, which sits smartly on Wetherby Road. This is a stylish, extended, semi-detached in a great commuting area within easy reach not just of York city centre but speedy routes to Leeds, Harrogate and Wetherby. Highlights here include a large, extended, lounge with patio doors opening out onto the splendid garden. In fact, this is something of a gardener’s delight as it has lawns, mature trees, flower beds and seating areas – and two garden sheds (essential get away spots for all serious horticulturalists!). The house also has a big dining kitchen and a separate dining room and upstairs there are two double bedrooms, the master having an en-suite shower room. And there’s more – the house has an annex with lounge, bedroom and wet room. Hunters are marketing this one at £995pcm.

Last but not least, as the saying goes, comes a delightful home in St Catherine’s Cottages at Skelton. It’s a mid-terrace property just outside the village and overlooking open countryside. Here, there is a sitting room, a splendid, spacious dining kitchen with a large walk-in pantry and fitted with an electric oven and hob, fridge freezer, washing machine and microwave. It has three good-sized bedrooms and a bathroom and separate wc. Now, here’s the next highlight, there is a communal rear garden overlooking open fields and with views across to York Minster in the distance. What’s more, they are maintained gardens – so you can enjoy them and not need a shotgun pointing at your head to get the grass cut. Isn’t that brilliant? Letters ltd are offering this one at £795pcm, including water rates.