How to Prepare Your Garden for Spring
After months of cold weather, your garden needs attention before it can thrive again. The work you do in late winter and early spring sets the foundation for the whole growing season. Here is where to start.
Clear Winter Debris
Dead leaves, fallen branches, and frost-damaged plant material left over winter can harbour pests and disease. Clear beds, borders, and lawns thoroughly before doing anything else. Compost healthy material and bin anything diseased.
Cut Back Perennials and Shrubs
Most herbaceous perennials that were left standing over winter (for structure and wildlife value) should be cut back to ground level now. For shrubs, remove any dead, diseased, or crossing branches. For roses, prune to an outward-facing bud.
Feed and Aerate the Lawn
Lawns take a beating over winter. Once the ground is workable, spike the lawn with a fork or aerator to improve drainage and air circulation. Apply a spring lawn feed to encourage growth. If there are bare patches, re-seed now.
Prepare Your Beds
Turn over border soil to break up compaction. Add a generous layer of well-rotted compost or soil conditioner and work it in. This improves structure, drainage, and nutrient availability — the foundation of a productive growing season.
Service Your Tools and Equipment
Sharpen spades, forks, and hoe blades. Clean and oil secateurs. Check your lawnmower — clean the blade, change the oil if applicable, and test the engine before the grass starts growing in earnest.
Plan What You Are Planting
Work out what is going where before you buy plants and seeds. Consider sunlight levels in different parts of the garden, what did well last year, and what you want to achieve. A simple sketch saves a lot of rearranging later.
When to Get Help
Hedge trimming, tree work, and large-scale clearances are often better handled by professionals with the right equipment. A 100 Handy outdoor Pro can tackle the heavy-lifting jobs so you can focus on the parts you enjoy.
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