Gardening Calendar

Spring Garden Tasks

With winter gone and the arrival of some milder spring weather, this is a busy and exciting time in the garden. Cleaning, preparing, planting and pruning are all essential to ensure that you have a beautiful garden all summer long. 

Tidy and Repair

After the chilly winter temperatures, check plant pots for cracks and frost damage. Clean, sharpen and oil your garden tools, clear paths of moss and weeds and once the weather is warm enough, apply wood preservative to fences, sheds and trellis.

Dead vegetation often gives shelter to snails and slugs, so clear leaves and debris to avoid attracting unwanted pests. You can also use the leaves to make leaf mould, which will add nutrition back into the soil. Sweep the leaves into a bin bag with a small amount of water, tie and poke small holes in the bag. Leave in a secluded part of the garden until next year, when your leaf mould will be ready for use

Mulch

Dig soil over before adding last year’s leaf mould or compost. Mulching in spring aids moisture retention, helps to suppress weeds and if done year on year, will increase the humus content of the soil essential for growing healthy plants.

Prune

Regular pruning will encourage growth and help to keep shrubs tidy. Summer flowering shrubs such as buddleja, caryopteris and hardy fuchsias should be cut before new growth shows. Those that bloom in spring should be trimmed straight after flowering. Rose bushes should be cut back by up to half, removing dead and damaged branches and trimming diseased stems back the healthy growth.

Feed and Water

Make sure any early spring flowers, such as daffodil, tulip and crocus get some attention, with plenty of watering to help them flourish. Give your plants a helping hand by feeding them a slow release general fertiliser to nourish and encourage healthy growth.

Plant

Add some instant colour and interest to the garden with hanging baskets and window boxes, packed with spring blooms. Bulbs such as Dahlias, Begonias, Gladioli, Lilies and Callas should be planted in preparation for your summer garden. Bulbs will benefit from good drainage, so don’t forget to add a handful of grit or stones to the bottom of the planting hole.

Sow vegetable seeds such as carrots, beetroot, broad beans, spinach and leeks, whilst starting off tomato plants indoors.  Spring is also a great time to plant sculptural ferns and grasses to the garden. They’re easy to maintain and will add a wonderful contrast to your colourful summer flowers.

Wildlife

Keep a look out for the spring loving creatures paying visit to your garden. Birds will begin to nest, as blackbirds, sparrows and tits collect twigs and debris to help build their new home. Ensure that feeders are regularly topped up, but avoid putting out peanuts, fat and bread in spring and summer, since these can be harmful if adult birds feed them to young chicks. Make sure your bird table is cleaned regularly and that water containers rinsed daily, before fresh water is added.

Hedgehogs and frogs will become active after hibernation. If you don’t have room for a pond, sink a plastic bowl halfway into the ground in a shady and quiet garden spot. Place a large stone inside the bowl to help frogs climb in and out!

And don’t forget, if you need any help or advice for your garden, our friendly staff at Plants Plus Nursery are always on hand to assist, so pop in for a chat!