How To Prepare Your Garden For Spring

Gloomy garden? Then clear up!

If your garden is looking a bit gloomy with some very sorry looking or dead plants, now is the perfect time to clear them out and pop them on the compost heap. 
You might find that some of the plants have already started to become well composted, in which case you can turn them over and work them in to the initial top layer of soil to give it some much needed nutrients and prep it for any new plants you’re going to put there. 
The addition of a rich mulch to your flower beds will also help to improve soil fertility and preserve moisture which can help with new plant growth in the spring. 

Prune it back

Pruning at the right time of year is key to helping your garden come back healthy and strong when summer rolls around. 
Ideally you want to prune in winter and early spring as this means your plants and trees will have the necessary resources to regrow when the weather warms up. 
Avoid pruning in the summer as you can actually cause your plants harm by taking away some of the precious food reserves that can be found in their flowers or leaves. 
It’s also important to make sure you’re pruning the right things. You want to remove anything that looks unhealthy, dead, diseased or damaged. In addition make sure you prune back any branches that are intruding on any walkways or paths so that they don’t get damaged when you walk past them.  

Sow some seeds

If it’s below 6C outside then avoid planting any seeds in the garden. Instead, you can opt to use a propagator on your indoor windowsills and plant veg or flower seeds in them, this will protect them from the frost and cold outside. 
However, once your soil reaches 6C you can get outside and start planting and potting to your heart’s desire! Make sure the area is clear of weeds and that it’s well-fertilised to give your seeds the best chance of growing healthy and strong. 

Make a home for nature & wildlife

Making sure your garden is wildlife-friendly doesn’t mean it needs to be left to its own devices and grow out of hand. It can be as simple as planting a few things that encourage wildlife. For example bees are drawn to flowers and plants such as lavender, bluebells, crocuses and rosemary, all of which can look and smell beautiful in any garden. 
The addition of a water feature not only looks stylish but can also provide local wildlife and birds with a place to bathe and have a drink in the hot sunshine. Your trees, hedges and bushes will all provide great, natural homes for wildlife and birds too, but if you wanted to provide them with some extra support then putting up a bird or nest box is a great way to do this. You can get some really stylish looking sustainably made ones that really add to the aesthetic of a garden.