How to get your garden ready for spring
1. Upgrade pots and planters
Spring marks the start of growing season, so assessing the state of your pots and planters is a quick gardening job to tick off your list.
Certain perennials, like tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, can make an appearance from as soon as early March. Updating your pots and planters is a great way to show them off in their best light. We have a wide array of planters to explore, from traditional wooden shapes to glazed terracotta.
Transplant existing blooms and seedlings into your new planters, or select some spring flowering plants from our range of plants, seeds and bulbs.
If you’re working with a smaller outdoor space you can still keep your green fingers busy! Hanging baskets are a fantastic way to add interest and a burst of colour to a balcony or small courtyard.
Top tip: Explore our guide on how to plant a hanging basket for some tips.
2. Prune shrubs and hedges
Spring is the best time to cut back any old growth on shrubs, hedges and smaller trees to promote new shoots and keep them looking orderly. This is best done before the appearance of any new growth, when shrubs are able to heal more readily.
Use a pruning tool to clip back rose bushes and any early flowering shrubs or overgrown foliage. This will give your plants the best chance of flourishing.
While you’re at it, take some tree loppers and cut back any unruly bordering hedges to neaten the overall appearance of your garden. This will also help sunshine to reach any previously shaded areas, boosting the health of your plants.
Top tip: Always prune with sharp secateurs and by making a slightly diagonal cut to ensure healthy growth.
3. Fill your borders with plants
Before your summer perennials come into bloom, there are plenty of spring flowering plants that will add colour to your outdoor space and encourage wildlife. Including variety in your planting arrangement is a great way to attract pollinators to your garden, which will really help to bring it to life.
Great quality soil is a simple way to promote healthier plant growth. If your soil isn’t too wet, start digging and turning to aerate it. Not only will this make it easier to plant, but it’ll also improve the soil quality for your spring garden plants to grow. Once you’re happy, it’s time to start planting! If you didn’t get round to it over autumn, there’s still time to plant summer flowering bulbs, like peonies, dahlias and begonias, during the spring months. When they come into bloom, these will also make for fantastic cut flowers to brighten up your indoors.
Remember to top your newly planted seeds and bulbs with a light layer of mulch to seal in moisture, helping them to be in full bloom by summer. Tomatoes will also benefit from planting in early spring, so add this to your to-do list if you’re planning on making some homegrown salads come summertime.
Top tip: Do you know your mulch from your multi-purpose? Explore our guide to the best peat-free composts for some helpful advice.
4. Give the patio and decking a spring clean
Winter weather can cause all sorts of moss, dirt and grime to accumulate on our patios. A grubby patio can cause your space to look lacklustre, even when surrounded by colourful flora.
Begin by sweeping away any leaves, twigs and debris. Then, use a pressure washer to blast your paving stones, decking and footpaths. This is a really satisfying job and will give your garden an instant lift. Familiarise yourself with our guide on how to pressure wash a patio or decking before you get started.
Top tip: For another easy way to revamp your outdoors, check out these paint ideas for a garden shed.
5. Tend to your lawn
Our lawns are often left to their own devices over the winter months, but now is the time to get them back into shape.
Give your lawn its first cut of the year with a mower, taking care to maintain a uniform length. To neaten your garden further, use a pair of garden shears or a grass trimmer to tidy the borders and create a neat finish.
If your lawn is looking sparse, dry or patchy, dampen it with the sprinkler setting on your garden hose and distribute a layer of grass feed to help revitalise it.
It’s important to do this on damp grass so the fertilizer can work more effectively and won’t scorch the grass in the process.
Top tip: For more spring gardening tips, take a look at our helpful guide on how to level a lawn.
6. Get your furniture ready
If your garden furniture is starting to look more shabby than shabby-chic, it’s time for a refresh.
Use garden paint in your favourite shade to breathe new life into tired-looking wooden tables and chairs. If your garden furniture is ready for a complete update, browse our full range of garden sofas, bistro sets, gazebos and parasols to find the perfect fit for your space. Whether you prefer metal or rattan, new furniture is the perfect way to give your spring garden a total makeover.
Top tip: Our guide to the best weatherproof garden furniture is full of high quality, low-maintenance options.
7. Refresh garden structures
While you’ve got your paint brush in hand, refresh any garden structures that the wind, rain and snow may have taken their toll on.
If it’s a dry day, update your trellises, arches, arbours, and sheds with a fresh coat of paint to inject some colour into your garden. It’s also a good idea to give the greenhouse a tidy by sweeping away any dead leaves and cleaning dirty window panes with a bucket of warm soapy water and a sponge.
If you’ve got time (and maybe helping hand) refreshing your fence paint will also help brighten your outdoor space. Learn how to do so here, or get creative with our guide on how to paint a feature fence.
Top tip: These garden shelter ideas will help you get full use of your outside space, whatever the weather.
From spring planting tips to maintaining garden buildings and borders, these are just a few jobs to keep you busy outdoors during early spring. Be sure to share your own gardening tips with us and document your spring garden transformations @Homebase_uk.
