Spring Awakening: How to Prepare Your Garden for a Blooming Season

As the days grow longer and temperatures begin to rise, it’s time to breathe new life into your garden. Spring is the perfect season for setting the foundation for a vibrant, flourishing outdoor space. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting, here are essential tips to get your garden ready for the months ahead.

1. Early Planting Tips

Choose Your Blooms Wisely: Start by selecting hardy annuals like pansies, snapdragons, and primroses that thrive in cooler spring temperatures. These early bloomers bring instant colour to your garden while paving the way for summer flowers.

Seed Sowing: Direct sow seeds for vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, and peas once the soil is workable. If frost is still a concern, use cloches or start seeds indoors to give your crops a head start.

Perennials Revival: Prune dead foliage from perennials and divide overcrowded clumps to encourage healthier growth.

2. Lawn Care for a Fresh Start

Clear Debris: Rake away leaves, twigs, and winter debris to give your grass room to breathe and grow.

Aeration: If your soil feels compacted, use a garden fork or aerator to improve drainage and root health.

First Mow: Wait until the grass is dry and temperatures consistently reach 10°C (50°F) before your first mow. Keep the mower blades high to avoid stressing the lawn.

Feeding: Apply a balanced spring lawn fertiliser to promote lush, green growth.

3. Spring Bulb Maintenance

Deadhead Wisely: Remove faded flowers from spring bulbs like daffodils and tulips, but allow the foliage to die back naturally. This helps bulbs store energy for next year’s blooms.

Bulb Division: If clumps of bulbs have become overcrowded, lift and divide them once the foliage has died down to maintain healthy growth and flowering.

Plant Summer Bulbs: Now is the perfect time to plant summer-flowering bulbs such as lilies, gladiolus, and dahlias for a stunning display in the warmer months.

Additional Tips for Spring Success

• Mulching: Apply a layer of organic mulch around flower beds and borders to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

• Weeding: Stay on top of early weeds before they have a chance to take hold.

• Garden Structures: Clean and repair trellises, fences, and pergolas to ensure they’re ready for climbing plants.

• Wildlife-Friendly Spaces: Consider planting pollinator-friendly flowers to support bees and butterflies returning to your garden.