Spring is finally upon us, which means it’s time for some spring cleaning! Spring cleaning shouldn’t just be limited to inside your home, but should also be extended to your garden.

After a long winter, your garden needs some attention to get ready for the warmer months ahead. This article will guide you through the process of preparing your garden for spring, covering key steps such as cleaning up, soil and plant preparation, pest control, planting ahead, and finalising any finishing touches.

Get ready to transform your garden into a vibrant and blooming oasis!

1 | Start with a Clean Up

Whether inside or outside, all good spring cleaning efforts should start with a good old tidy up. By creating a clean and tidy space first and foremost, then you put yourself in the best position for carrying out all other necessary tasks ahead.

Here are some of the key things to focus on when cleaning up your garden.

Removing Debris

Moss, dead leaves and twigs always seem to find their way onto your garden over the winter months. A good starting point is to go around and remove all debris from your lawn, borders and beds.

Removing all fallen debris not only improves the visual appeal of your garden, but it also helps to protect your plants for the growing season ahead, as such debris can otherwise allow bacteria to develop that could infect your plants.

Cleaning Garden Beds

It’s important to prepare your garden beds for the new plants you plan to have blooming throughout the next few months, ensuring they have a healthy and nutritious space to grow.

Start by removing any weeds and leftover annuals from your raised beds and borders. Should these have been healthy before the end of their lifecycle and not showing any signs of disease, or pests then these can be put into your compost bin.

Equally, remove any stones or larger rocks from your beds, as these can otherwise hinder root growth and make it hard to dig and turn the soil.

Preparing Furniture & Tools

With the days getting longer and temperatures increasing, it’s natural to want to spend more time outside and soaking up some vitamin D. As such, you’ll want to ensure that your garden furniture is in tip-top condition.

Consider brushing, vacuuming or washing (if they can be washed) any outdoor cushions/cushion covers, then using a soft bristled brush and mild cleaning solution to wipe down your garden furniture. Make sure to do this on a sunny day, so that it can air dry fully.

Equally, you might want to consider cleaning all of your garden tools, ensuring that they are in good working order.

2 | Prepare Your Soil and Plants

Soil

Preparing your soil for the new season’s plants ensures that they have a healthy and nutritious environment to grow, giving them the best chance at thriving for the season ahead.

You can do this by breaking up compacted soil with a garden fork, improving the oxygen and airflow within it to then help promote plant growth. You should also consider using a high-quality compost and mixing this in with your soil; whether you use your own home compost or commercial all-purpose compost, this can provide your plants with the nutrients they need to thrive.

After planting, you could also add a layer of mulch atop the soil, which helps to retain moisture, suppress weeds and regulate the soil temperature.

Plants

Improve the look and health of your trees and shrubs by removing dead, damaged or crossing branches. As well as improving the look and structure of your plants, it also encourages healthy growth.

As for any of your perennials, these should also be pruned to encourage new growth and maintain a tidy appearance.

3 | Pest Control

Even if you’ve taken the time to try to prevent diseases from spreading throughout your garden throughout the winter, sometimes pests are still drawn to your plants and can be unavoidable.

Check for and remove any hibernating pests, such as snails, slugs and/or aphid colonies. Remember to check underneath leaves, as well as around your plants. Whilst some species can be brushed off, others will need a specialist pest treatment in order to be removed.

By removing any signs of pests, then you can give your new plants their best chance at growth.

4 | Planting Ahead

Seeds

When the soil is warm enough, sow seeds for early-flowering plants and hardy vegetables. For early-flowering plants, this can include:

• Cosmos
• Marigolds
• Nasturtiums
• Sweet peas

As for vegetables, this includes:

• Potatoes
• Onions
• Carrots
• Radishes
• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Cabbages

Bulbs

Spring is the perfect time to plant your summer-flowering bulbs. These vibrant additions to your garden will bring color and life throughout the warmer months. Popular choices for summer blooms include lilies, with their elegant trumpets and captivating fragrance, and gladioli, known for their tall spikes and impressive range of colors. 

Perennials

March and April are good months to plant perennials, adding colour and biodiversity to your garden. Consider a mix of tall and short plants, offering more dimension and a fuller appearance in your flower beds and borders. Also consider the different colours you want in your garden – do you want a multi-coloured approach or a more considered theme.

Some examples of spring perennials include:

• Primroses
• Pansies
• Tulips
• Clematis
• Bluebells
• Bergernias

5 | Finishing Touches

Composting

If you own your own compost pile, then spring is the right time to turn this over. After working hard over the winter, the bottom layer will make for excellent mulch to spread atop your flower bed.

It’s important to maintain your compost throughout the spring, ensuring that it stays healthy and can be used to support the viability of our soil. Good quality compost features a mix of nitrogen-rich materials (known as ‘greens’) and carbon-rich materials (known as ‘browns’).

Green compost materials include:

• Fruit scraps
• Vegetable scraps
• Tea bags
• Coffee grounds
• Grass clippings
• Weeds
• Hair

Brown compost materials include:

• Dried leaves
• Plant stalks
• Shredded paper
• Shredded cardboard
• Eggshells.

Touch-Ups

If there are certain features of your garden that are looking a little rundown, be it a shed or your garden fencing, then consider giving these some touch-ups to get them looking fresh and attractive again.

Refresh any dull timber surfaces with a new coat of exterior paint. Consider also adding a timber treatment, such as oils and preservatives, to protect them equally from wet and windy weather, and from UV damage, keeping them looking fresher for longer.

Speaking of paint, consider changing up the colour of your fence panels. Rather than a traditional brown, consider alternative colours such as green or black. Dark greens really blend in well with the natural surroundings in your garden, giving the illusion of a larger, more harmonious space. As for black, this actually allows the foliage and flowers in your garden to really pop, enhancing their vibrancy.

Upgrades

To prepare your garden for spring, consider incorporating upgrades that enhance its functionality and aesthetics.

If you plan on investing lots of your time into your garden, then also consider investing in durable garden tools and equipment to make gardening easier and more enjoyable. You might also think about installing a water-efficient irrigation system to ensure your plants receive adequate hydration throughout the growing season.

As for elevating the appearance of your garden, think about the decorative elements you could add to really take your outdoor space to the next level. This might include stepping stones, garden sculptures and colorful planters. By implementing these upgrades, you can create a vibrant and inviting outdoor space that welcomes the arrival of spring and sees you through seamlessly into summer.

Essential Gardening Supplies from Hales Sawmills

Don’t miss out on the chance to create a vibrant and blooming oasis in your own backyard this spring. We can help set you up perfectly here at Hales Sawmills, your one-stop shop for all things garden. We can provide you with a wide range of high-quality supplies, from compost to timber treatments.

Take a look at our product range online today, and don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to seek any expert advice to help you get started. Elevate your garden with Hales Sawmills, and let’s make this spring cleaning a memorable one!