If you’re the type of gardener that’s itching to get outside, the good news is there’s still plenty you can do to ensure your garden is ready for spring. This time of year is perfect for planning your garden, tidying up after winter, and preparing your soil for the new season.
The closer spring gets, the more options will be available in garden centres and other stores. You may be looking to add a few new features or completely overhaul the appearance of your garden.
To help, we’ve put together a short list of ways that you can prepare your garden for spring, and make the most of it once it finally arrives.
Keep your garden tidy
Finding a day with little or no rain can be a bit of a challenge. When the day arrives, don’t waste it indoors. Get outside and start tidying up. Making your garden more presentable gives you a clean slate on which to plan your garden regeneration. It also allows you to concentrate on the enjoyable aspects of gardening, when spring does finally come around.
Get rid of leaves and other debris that have landed within your flowerbeds, lawns, and ponds. Have a dig and find out if the soil is in a workable condition. If so, take off around 5cms and move it to empty garden borders.
Pick out some ornaments
If you want to put your personality across, ornaments are a perfect way. Ornaments can be placed within lawns, flowerbeds, patios, or as a centrepiece to a pond. There are no restrictions – the design is completely down to you.
You can choose these based on your interests, style and tastes. If you want to showcase your potted plants, you can buy a plinth for around £36. If you want the birds to pay a visit, invest in a birdbath.
Not all ornaments have a practical design element. Perhaps you just wish to make a statement. You can do this with gorgeous ornaments in the style of Buddha, lions, Pandora, and even meerkats.
Prepare your gardening tools
If you’ve made an investment in quality gardening tools in the past, ensure to keep them in top condition. Caring about your tools will save you money in the future. Give them a thorough clean and get them sharpened. When spring arrives, you’ll want to make the most out of it. Gardening with blunt, ineffective tools will only be frustrating for you and won’t give your garden the same finesse.
Cleaning your tools will also ensure you don’t allow any bacteria or fungi to enter fresh pruning wounds.
Get weeding now
Winter is an ideal time to start weeding, as the roots will be shallow. Keep on top of any existing weeds and watch out for new ones that rear their heads. Also, you may want to try a few tactics to stop the weeds from sprouting in the first place. This is achieved by adding around 3 to 4 inches of mulch to any bare areas.
Covering flowerbeds with plastic sheets is another good way of suppressing weeds.
Create a compost heap
If you don’t already have a composting area in your garden, now is the time to do it. It’s a cheap, eco-friendly way to recycle unwanted vegetable peelings, rotten fruit, garden waste, dead grass, and wood. This is an excellent way of creating rich compost that will go back into the garden to enhance your plants.
You can buy a compost bin or make your own with unwanted pieces of wood. If you make it yourself, you can choose the shape and size that suits you. If it gets dry, keep it watered. You’ll also need to turn it at least once a month to help it along. It takes around 3 to 6 months for the compost to mature.
Garden redesign
As the weather brightens and the temperature rises, you and your family are more likely to start spending more time outside. This makes Spring an excellent time to plan and start to implement that garden refurbishment you’ve been looking forward to.
At Minster Paving, we understand the importance of beautifully designed, locally-sourced patios and pavings. A simple feature like this can transform the look and feel of your garden, whether you’re looking to create more outdoor sitting space, improve your style, or simply add a garden path.
Find out more about our stunning range of paving, patios, and stepping stones.
Although winter may feel like a lost cause, there’s still plenty to be achieved in good time for spring. Call Minster Paving today on 01865 300252 or contact us online for advice and a quote on various garden products.