The start of March always gets us thinking about spring time and if you’re anything like us, the green-fingered amongst you will be itching to get back into the garden after the winter break. You won’t have missed the green shoots starting to appear in your garden and this is the signal that we need to get back out into our outdoor spaces…
Follow our top tips for getting your garden spring-ready in no time!
Tidy up time
Dead leaves, twigs and old plants need to be cleared from garden borders now to make way for new spring growth. There’s often all sorts of debris around the garden after it has remained dormant for several months so a good tidy is needed to start afresh for spring. Remove weeds from the root to minimise regrowth and rake the lawn. Check paths and fences for signs of winter damage and repair if necessary.
Trim, prune and remove
It’s time to retrieve your gardening tools from the shed, which as you’ll remember from our winter gardening blog, will be in tip-top condition after they were cleaned and oiled over winter ready for this very moment! Look for any old and decayed debris that needs removing from the garden and trim dead ends from plants and shrubs. Summer plants need pruning in spring but wait until mid-April in case of frost.
Revitalise
Establishing a strong, healthy, organic soil is the best way of producing vibrant and robust plants and shrubs. Add mulch to your soil to replenish vital minerals and nutrients lost through the winter months. Keep mulch around 5cm from the base of any plants however to prevent root rot. Top dress your soil with a layer of natural compost to promote healthy new growth. Blood, fish and bone provide the perfect feed for a starving garden.
Protect
With the return of the warmer weather and new growth throughout your garden, comes the return of bugs and pests. Treat your newly trimmed plants and shrubs with pesticides, wherever possible we’d always recommend using a natural garden pest control to keep insects, mould and mildew away. Protecting your plants from the outset is easier than dealing with an infestation later on which may completely destroy certain plants and flowers.
Plant seeds
Take the time to make a plan of which types of flowers and plants you want in your garden, consider the areas that are going to be seen the most, light and shade, damp areas and also think about flowers that naturally attract beneficial insects. Beneficial insects are attracted by plants such as daisies, goldenrod and asters and will act as natural defenders against mites and aphids. Use a garden rake to get a perfect grounding for planting new seeds. If you’re tempted to buy fully grown plants for the garden from a garden centre, make sure you can protect them adequately as at this time of year frosty nights are still common. Pansies, tulips, begonias and snapdragons make good choices for a spring garden.
Build a bug house
As well as planting beneficial plants in your garden, adding a bug house or insectary is a brilliant way of making sure there are plenty of friendly insects in your garden. Spring is the perfect time to add one to your garden in preparation for when new insects begin to arrive.
Bird feeders
When was the last time you cleaned your bird feeder? Mid-spring is the best time to clear out feeders for your feathered visitors. Use a weak bleach solution and dry thoroughly before putting away for the spring and summer months when birds should be feeding from nuts, seeds and fruits found on trees and shrubs.
