Spring for many feels like a fresh clean slate, the sun finally turns up and we get that boost of motivation to get outside and be productive. Naturally, our gardens will have been left to their own devices over the winter so it’s probably not looking its most loved. Well, spring is the perfect time of year to turn that around and get it looking fresh and beautiful for those warmer sunnier months that are just around the corner!
In this blog, we will go through our recommended tips and tricks to transform your garden and get it back to its best, from revitalising your lawn and refreshing flower beds to pruning overgrown plants and adding new seasonal blooms. Whether you’re looking to create a vibrant outdoor space, improve soil health, or boost your garden’s curb appeal, we’ve got practical advice to help you make the most of the spring season!
Divide perennials
Dividing perennials is the process of splitting up large, established plants into smaller sections and replanting them. This helps promote healthier growth, prevent overcrowding, and rejuvenate older plants that may have started to decline.
Spring is the ideal time for division because the soil is warming up, and plants are coming out of dormancy, giving them the best chance to establish strong roots before the summer. It’s a great way to fill out your garden, encourage more blooms, and even share extra plants with friends or family!
Prune plants
This is a classic you hear all the time from gardeners “prune, prune prune” but it’s easier said than done, right? Well, let us simplify things for you so you know exactly what to chop and what not to touch!
Pruning in spring is essential for keeping your plants healthy, encouraging new growth, and shaping them for the season ahead. The key to pruning correctly is to use sharp, clean tools and make cuts just above a healthy bud or branching point to promote fresh growth. Remove dead, damaged, or diseased branches first, then thin out any overcrowded areas to improve airflow and sunlight penetration.
Some well-known plants that benefit from spring pruning include lavender, fuchsias, roses, hydrangeas, and buddleia. These plants respond well to a spring trim, helping them produce stronger stems and more abundant blooms throughout the warmer months.
Clean up flower beds and pull those weeds
The key to a fresh, tidy-looking garden is to really clear up your borders and flower beds and remove all those weeds that are cluttering things up! Not only will this make the space look cleaner and more organised but it will also prevent weeds from competing with your plants for nutrients, water, and sunlight, allowing your flowers to thrive. Keeping your flower beds clean reduces the risk of pests and diseases, improves soil health, and gives your plants the best conditions to grow strong and bloom beautifully throughout the season.
Create a composting area
Creating a compost area has so many benefits from reducing garden waste and enriching your soil to improving plant health and sustainability. Composting provides nutrient-rich organic matter that helps your plants grow stronger, improves soil structure, and retains moisture, reducing the need for chemical fertilisers. Plus, it’s an eco-friendly way to recycle food scraps and garden clippings, turning waste into valuable resources for your garden.
Sow suitable seeds & plant summer bulbs
Spring is the ideal time to sow seeds and plant bulbs as the soil begins to warm up, providing the perfect conditions for germination and root growth. Hardy annuals like sweet peas, sunflowers, marigolds, and cosmos can be sown directly into garden beds, while vegetables like carrots, lettuce, peas, and radishes thrive when planted in early spring. Spring is also great for planting summer-flowering bulbs such as dahlias, lilies, and gladioli, which will bloom beautifully in the warmer months.
Top Tips for Successful Planting:
- Prepare the soil – Loosen and enrich it with compost to provide essential nutrients.
- Follow spacing guidelines – Crowded seeds or bulbs compete for resources and may struggle to grow.
- Water consistently – Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged to encourage healthy root development.
- Start indoors if needed – Some seeds, like tomatoes and peppers, do best when germinated indoors before transplanting.
Water butt installation
Installing a water butt in spring is a smart and eco-friendly way to collect and store rainwater for the drier months ahead. With spring showers providing plenty of rainfall, setting up a water butt now allows you to harvest and save water before summer, reducing reliance on mains water and ensuring your garden stays hydrated even in dry spells.
Using rainwater is better for plants as it’s chemical-free and naturally softer, making it ideal for watering flower beds, vegetable patches, and potted plants. Plus, with the risk of hosepipe bans during hotter months, having a stored supply of rainwater means you can keep your garden thriving without restrictions. A water butt is a simple yet effective way to conserve resources, cut down on water bills, and practice sustainable gardening all year round!
Add compost to your garden
Spring is the perfect time to add compost to your garden as plants wake up from winter dormancy and begin their growing season. Compost enriches the soil with essential nutrients, improving plant health and encouraging strong root development. By replenishing the soil after winter, you give flowers, vegetables, and shrubs the best possible start for the warmer months ahead.
Adding compost also improves soil structure, helping it retain moisture while allowing proper drainage, crucial for preventing waterlogging or drying out too quickly in summer. A well-nourished garden means healthier plants, more vibrant blooms, and better vegetable yields throughout the season.
Spring is also the best time to work compost into flower beds, vegetable patches, and around trees and shrubs, ensuring the nutrients are absorbed as new growth begins. Whether using homemade compost or a premium local compost mix, this simple step sets your garden up for success, making it lush, productive, and ready to enjoy all summer long.
Unsure how much compost you’ll need? Check out our helpful compost calculator to avoid unnecessary waste.
Add mulch around perennials
Adding mulch around perennials in spring is one of the best things you can do to keep your garden healthy and thriving. As plants begin their new growth, mulch helps to retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds, giving your perennials the best conditions to flourish throughout the warmer months.
Mulching also improves soil health by slowly breaking down and adding organic matter, enriching the soil with nutrients that support strong root development. This is especially important after winter, as it helps restore and condition the soil, ensuring perennials get everything they need for a strong growing season.
By creating a protective barrier, mulch also reduces evaporation during hot weather, meaning you’ll need to water less frequently. Whether using bark, compost, or quality well-rotted manure, a good layer of premium mulch will keep your perennials healthy, resilient, and looking their best all season long.
Prune roses
Pruning roses in spring is crucial for healthy growth, better flowering, and overall plant strength. Regular pruning removes dead, diseased, or weak stems, allowing the plant to focus its energy on producing strong new shoots and vibrant blooms. It also improves airflow and sunlight exposure, reducing the risk of fungal diseases like black spot and powdery mildew.
Pruning also helps to shape the rose bush, preventing overcrowding and encouraging a balanced, attractive structure. If left unpruned, roses can become leggy and tangled, leading to fewer flowers and weaker stems. By cutting back old wood, you stimulate fresh, vigorous growth, ensuring your roses look their best throughout the season.
Best Practices for Pruning Roses
- Use sharp, clean secateurs – This ensures clean cuts that heal quickly and prevent disease spread.
- Cut at a 45-degree angle – Make your cuts just above an outward-facing bud to promote outward growth and an open shape.
- Remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches – This prevents overcrowding and improves air circulation.
- Prune hybrid teas and floribundas to about a third of their height – This encourages strong regrowth and bigger blooms.
- Trim climbing roses to maintain shape – Remove weak or dead stems and tie in healthy shoots to support growth.
Key Takeaways
Now’s the perfect time to spring into action and get your garden ready to enjoy all summer long, and who knows, maybe even some warm spring days too! We understand that sometimes we can have all the best intentions of getting round to our gardening and cracking on with this whole list, but life gets busy. So, if you find yourself short of time try and get these 3 main things done to give your garden the boost it needs to flourish!
- Clean up your flowerbeds & pull up those weeds
- Prune your plants
- Add compost to your garden
Putting in the work now over the next few weeks really will help keep your garden thriving and lower maintenance, so you can spend more time relaxing and enjoying your garden rather than being put to work! Or perhaps you actually find gardening therapeutic, then knock yourself out with this guide to get your garden looking its best!
If you need any help or advice do reach out to our expert team who will be happy to assist.
