With the days beginning to grow longer, and with the temperatures creeping above 0, we are all ready to say goodbye to winter and hello to spring. Although we may be ready for spring, often our gardens are not, with the harsh winter taking a toll on our once-blooming gardens. That’s why, Rhino Greenhouses Direct has created the ultimate guide to get your garden ready for the spring.
Getting your garden ready for spring involves several key steps to ensure a healthy and vibrant garden. Here's a basic guide to get you started:
How to Prepare Your Garden for Spring
Clean Up:
It may sound simple, but one of the easiest ways to refresh your garden for the spring is to start by cleaning out your garden. Clear any rubbish that you may have lying around and start to free up any garden space that you want to use for gardening.
Create a Compost Area:
Clear space and create a compost area. Things like sticks and small branches that you find around your garden are great to add to your home compost pile as they add structure, promoting better aeration. Fallen leaves and pinecones can also be added to the compost pile as they are an excellent source of carbon and they add valuable minerals to the compost, enriching it with nutrients. If you already have a compost pile, don’t forget to give it a turn if you haven't in a while and have it ready for your soil.
Soil Preparation:
Spring is a great time to enrich your garden's soil. Add compost, manure, or a good-quality soil mix to provide essential nutrients. If you haven't done a soil test recently, it might be a good idea to do one to understand what nutrients your soil is lacking.
Maintenance and Décor:
As planting time approaches, it's essential to tidy up your garden plots, raised beds, and planters. Dive into some DIY to address any damage from the winter months and consider adding a fresh coat of paint to fences, trellises, planters, and raised beds in need of a revamp. Trust us; you'll thank yourself during the summer months. If you lead a busy lifestyle or DIY isn’t your forte, explore the Rhino Aluminium Raised Beds – these beauties are powder-coated and won't require annual maintenance.
Pruning and Trimming:
In early spring, it's ideal to prune summer-blooming shrubs like roses and hydrangeas, fruit trees, ornamental grasses, and certain perennials to encourage healthy growth and flowering. It's also important to trim back any winter-damaged branches on shrubs and prune specific varieties of clematis, ensuring tools are clean and sharp to prevent disease spread.
Lawn Care:
In early spring, it's beneficial to rake your lawn to remove thatch, aerate to allow air and nutrients to reach grass roots, and apply fertiliser as needed for a healthy, robust lawn by late spring. These steps help in promoting deeper root growth and preparing the lawn for active use in the warmer months.
Planting:
Once your soil is prepared and the last frost has passed, you can start planting. Spring is a great time for planting a variety of flowers, vegetables, and herbs. When heading down to your local garden centre you will need to look for summer-blooming bulbs or seeds that can planted in spring, which we’ll look at in more detail later in this article.
Mulching:
Applying a layer of mulch around your plants helps to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Organic mulches, like wood chips or straw, can also improve soil quality as they decompose, so throw them onto the soil right away. If you have a compost pile from last year, now is the time to put it into action.
Watering:
Establish a regular watering schedule. Spring weather can be unpredictable, so be sure to keep an eye on moisture levels in the soil. Over-watering can be just as harmful as under-watering so buy yourself a soil moisture meter if you’re unsure how much water your plant needs.
Pest and Disease Control:
Monitor your plants for signs of pests or diseases. Early detection is key to managing these problems. Use environmentally friendly methods where possible, such as insecticidal soaps or wool pellets to deter slugs.
Tool Maintenance:
Ensure your gardening tools are in top condition by cleaning, sharpening and disinfecting them to help prevent the spread of disease. Check for any necessary repairs to make gardening more efficient. Organise your shed and greenhouse, tidying and sterilising as needed, and consider upgrading equipment to enhance your gardening experience.
Install a Water Butt:
Using a water butt is an environmentally friendly way to ensure a sustainable water supply for your garden. Collected rainwater is often better for plants compared to tap water, as it is rich in nitrogen and free from added chemicals like chlorine. Using it helps reduce reliance on mains water, conserving a valuable resource.
Move Deciduous Shrubs:
Winter is a great time to move any deciduous shrubs, as they’ll still be dormant. Move shrubs on a still day to prevent the wind from drying out the roots. Deciduous shrubs consist of hydrangeas, lilac and forsythia.
When planning and designing your garden, consider the layout, companion planting, colour schemes, and seasonal evolution, while also embracing the journey of gardening: enjoying the process of watching your garden grow and transform throughout the season.
What To Grow in a Spring Garden
Wondering what to plant in your garden during the late winter and early spring for a stunning summer display? You're in the perfect place to learn about the best bulbs and seeds to sow during this time for a vibrant and colourful garden.
Flowers to Sow in Late Winter/Early Spring
Late winter and early spring are ideal times to start sowing seeds for a vibrant garden. Here are some flower varieties to consider for successful cultivation during this season.