Spring is that you? Can you feel it? The sunlight on your face? The sound of birds tweeting in the trees?
The British winter is finally going away and we’re heading into spring. From those stubborn crocuses poking through the soil to glorious daffodils bobbing in the breeze, your garden is waking up. If you’re ready to set the stage for a spectacular summer display, this is your time to get to work.
Longer days
The shifting light levels trigger the clocks of every creature in your garden. Try synchronising your chores with the changes. Taking action now prevents you from playing catch-up once the May growth spurt hits full throttle.
By establishing a clear rhythm in March, you ensure that your outdoor sanctuary becomes a place of relaxation when the summer heat arrives.
Start with a seasonal garden clean up
Spring clean your garden area. Begin by stripping away the soggy remnants of last year. Clear away fallen leaves and sodden twigs from your borders and remove slugs or fungal spores that might feast on emerging shoots.
Prune any branches damaged by winter gales to prevent rot from entering the main stem of your shrubs. If you own a polytunnel or greenhouse, this is the ideal time to clean it up. Scrub the panes now to allow maximum sunlight to reach your seedlings. This creates a clean and bright environment that effectively extends your growing season by several weeks.
Plan your spring planting and seed schedule
Select resilient varieties that can handle a sudden dip in temperature. Hardy vegetables like broad beans and spinach thrive when sown early, whereas delicate herbs require the shelter of a windowsill until the ground warms up.
You can achieve an ongoing harvest by staggering your sowing dates every fortnight rather than planting everything in one afternoon. This keeps your kitchen supplied with fresh produce well into the autumn months. Also, introduce some flowers now. Opt for blues that add a pop of colour and attract bees and other pollinators.
Prepare your lawn and outdoor spaces
Your lawn likely looks tired and compacted after months of heavy rain and lack of oxygen. Use a garden fork to spike the surface every few inches, as this aeration allows water and nutrients to reach the roots directly. If you spot bare patches, scatter a high-quality seed mix and firm it down to discourage birds from raiding your hard work.
Beyond the grass, applying a fresh layer of bark mulch to your flower beds suppresses weeds and locks in moisture.
Check tools, equipment and watering systems
When you maintain your equipment properly, you reduce physical strain on your body and make every hour spent in the garden significantly more productive.
Check your secateurs before the heavy pruning begins. Clean off any dried sap and apply oil to the pivot point so they operate easily. You should also inspect your garden hose and any irrigation timers for cracks or leaks caused by freezing temperatures over the winter. Also, cleaning your terracotta pots with a mild disinfectant removes lingering pathogens that might stunt new growth.
By prepping the space now, you’ll have a glorious green garden by the time we get to summer.
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