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Published: 26 February 2022

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As winter comes to an end, many are looking forward to the freshness of spring, when many new flowers and blubs emerge. But, following tough winter conditions your garden is often in need of some extra care to restore it back to health in time for planting. Between February and April is the best time to begin your spring gardening and while it may seem a little cold for some, getting the preparation work in as early as possible will mean you can reap the rewards later on. We’ve collated some top tips to help you get your garden ready for spring.

1. Tidy the garden

While this may seem an obvious start to some, starting with a blank slate makes it so much easier to tackle your other spring gardening jobs. A good sweep and clean can go a long way to tidy and prepare the garden for the spring ahead. Collect any dead leaves or stalks that may have collected as these can harbour diseases and allow bacteria to develop and infect your plants. It’s also the best time to cut down foliage from perennials and compost it.

2. Prune your trees, shrubs and hedges

If you didn’t prune your trees before or during winter, then now is the time to do so. Remove any damaged, dead or diseased branches, but make sure to find out weather a certain plant is best pruned before spring or after flowering. It’s best to prune fruit trees in late winter or early spring.

3. Revive (or start) your compost

If you haven't already, now’s a great time to set up a compost area in your garden. This could be as simple as buying a ready-made compost bin or you could build your own using spare wood. After clearing away all of that organic matter from the garden, you can use it to make your compost ready for the next spring. Make sure you have a good mixture of grass clippings, vegetable peelings, paper and woody pruning’s, and don’t forget to help the process along by turning it with a garden fork each month.

4. Fix fences, gates, railings and trellis

If your garden fell victim to the harsh weather this winter, now is the perfect time to fix up your fences and other structures. You could take it as an opportunity to add more colour to your outdoor space too and spruce them up with a fresh coat of paint.

5. Banish pests & encourage beneficial bugs

During the harsh winter, slugs, snails, aphids and larvae may have taken shelter in your garden or greenhouse. It’s best to get rid of them before putting in new plants for spring. It’s best to use more natural, homemade methods of pest control to minimise the harm to helpful insects, like bees.

6. Revive your soil.

Harsh winter weather can greatly affect the quality of your garden soil, so it’s best to make sure to check it before planting anything. Test your soil for quality by grabbing a handful and squeezing it tightly; the soil should crumble instead of forming clumps. If necessary, test it’s ph level and enrich accordingly. Add in some compost and use a garden fork to mix everything properly.

7. Sow and Plant

After you’ve revived your soil, you’re ready to plant any new plants in your garden.  Some of the best things to plant for spring are:

• Spring flower bulbs, such as tulips, daffodils or hyacinths
• Shrubs, such as viburnums or rhododendrons
• Vegetables, such as lettuces, cabbages, broccoli, onion & potatoes

8. Install a water butt

Install a water butt ready to collect those spring showers. It’s not only an eco-friendly way to water your garden but also has many beneficial nutrients that your lovely plants will thank you for.