How to prepare the garden for spring

The first step to preparing your garden for spring is to clean up any debris left over from winter. This includes removing any fallen leaves, dead branches, and other debris that has accumulated over the winter months. This is important as they can harbour diseases and bacteria which could infect your plants. Rake the soil to remove any weeds or leftover leaves, which can smother young plants. You may need to get weed killer to keep some weeds at bay.

Pick up any plants that may have fallen over in the high winds and replace any pots that have broken over winter. Some plants that have outgrown their pots may also need repotting.

Use a pressure washer to clean stubborn dirt from patios, pathways, and steps. Make sure you take particular care not to damage the grout and filler between slabs or softer surrounding surfaces such as wood and lawn. Make sure that plants are protected during this process. Fences and gates can be cleaned using a gentle pressure attachment.

Spring is the best time to prune trees and shrubs, now that the frosts have passed, and they are just starting to come out of dormancy. Prune any dead or damaged branches, and shape the plants to keep them looking neat and tidy. Be careful not to over-prune, as this can damage the plants and inhibit growth.

This is a good time to feed, rake and scarify your lawn. This will remove old grass cuttings, called thatch, allowing your lawn to breathe and preventing it from becoming waterlogged in the rainy season. It will also improve the lawn’s health, vastly improving its appearance and resistance to disease.

Good soil is the foundation of a healthy garden, so it’s important to prepare your soil before planting. Add compost or other organic matter to your soil to improve its texture and nutrient content. This will help to encourage healthy growth and improve the overall health of your plants.

Lift leaves that might be harbouring infestations of bugs and flies and try to remove any that you come across. Some pests will need specialist treatments, and stocking up on these treatments is prudent.

Spring is the time to start planning your planting. Consider what you want to plant and where, taking into account the amount of sun each area receives and the soil type. Also think about petal colours and at what time of year flowers are likely to bloom. Plan out your garden in advance, so you can be sure to get the right plants in the right places. Then buy the seeds you need to see you through the season.

Once you’ve prepared your soil and planned your planting, it’s time to start planting. Spring is the right time to plant annuals, bulbs, and other spring-blooming flowers. You can also start planting vegetables and herbs, as the soil is starting to warm up.

As the weather warms up, it’s important to water your plants regularly. Water deeply and infrequently to encourage deep root growth, and be sure to water early in the morning or late in the evening to reduce evaporation.

Find out your patio furniture and examine it for signs of dirt. Garden furniture frames can be cleaned using soapy water and cushions can be spruced up by following manufacturers’ recommendations for cleaning.  Wooden surfaces such as teak may need cleaning with teak cleaner and an application of teak protector. Spring is also the ideal time to purchase or replace worn garden furniture. Garden centres will be fully stocked with all their new collections, so you’ll be able to choose from the widest selection of the latest styles in-store.

The chances are that a barbecue that’s been stored over the winter could also benefit from a thorough spring clean if you want to get entertaining in style and with safety. Weber make good value cleaning kits for charcoal, gas enamel and gas stainless steel barbecues. These sets include all the essential tools and cleaning sprays needed to restore the gleam to a barbecue in a handy boxed set. Also make sure you pick up the fuel you’ll need for the barbecue nice and early before stocks run low. Whilst you’re about it, ensure you have accessories to help you get the barbecue lit and check if any essential barbecue cooking tools, grates or grillware require replacing.