Spring has rolled around, and the clocks have rolled forward, which means that gardens in the UK will be enjoying more and more sunshine.
The transition from winter weather can be an exciting one, and yet, to get the best from your garden at this time of year, you’ll want to make sure that a few essential jobs are done.
Waking Up Your Garden and Preparing the Soil
After winter, your garden might be choked with debris. Getting rid of all of the dead leaves, twigs, and other loose items will allow what remains to breathe again.
You can then start preparing the soil for growing. Fertilising the soil, and removing any unwanted weeds, is critical, and now is the time to do it.
By making this effort, you’ll give the plants in your garden the best possible chance of thriving later on.
Sowing Seeds and Planting New Arrivals
Getting your new plants off to the best start often means getting them started indoors (or in a greenhouse) before moving them outside.
You can also buy seedlings that are ready to go from your local garden centre, or even get the entire plant ready to be installed into the soil.
Make sure that you handle these young plants delicately and that the compost around them is suitably firm and well-drained. Pay attention to soil moisture during the first few days and weeks; don’t allow it to dry out!
Essential Spring Maintenance Tasks
During spring, there are a few essential jobs that should not be neglected. These include pruning any shrubs that have burst into flower, and dealing with any weeds that might have emerged. Certain perennials might need to be divided if they’re going to thrive, but in most cases, this need only be done every two to three years.
Now is also a great time to install decorative elements. Solar lights are a great way of accenting pathways and boundaries around the garden. They’re particularly useful if you’re going to be outside during the evening.
Protecting Your Garden from Pests and Diseases
Garden pests can quickly decimate a vegetable patch if they’re allowed to spread unimpeded. Aphids and slugs can be particularly dangerous. The best way to cope with this problem is to attract predators to the garden.
Biodiversity is a natural way of keeping pests under control. If there are bees, frogs, beetles and birds in your garden, then they’ll seek out those pests on your behalf.
Attract this kind of help with flowering plants and water features.
Looking After Your Lawn in Spring
Many gardens will be built around a lawn. Over winter, your lawn might have been damaged by moss, moles, and other problems.
Now is the time to repair it. Get the lawn fed and watered, and give it a trim on the highest setting. You can cut things down a little further once the grass has grown a little more.
