If you’re the type of gardener who’s itching to get outside, this time of year is perfect for you to begin planning your garden, tidying up after winter, and preparing your soil for the new season.
You may be looking to add a few new features, or completely overhaul the appearance of your garden as spring arrives. To help, we’ve put together a short list of tips to follow as you begin preparing your garden, to make the most of your outdoor space once Spring finally arrives.
The First Step to a Spring Garden is to Start Tidying Up
Finding a day with little or no rain can be a bit of a challenge. When the day arrives, don’t waste it indoors! 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 finally comes around.
Remove 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.
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 Started on the weeding
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 flower beds 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 in at least once a month to help it along. It takes around 3 to 6 months for the compost to mature.
Get the most out of your garden with a 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.
Revolutionise your garden with a paving project
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.
A different choice of garden paving can create an entirely new personality for your outdoor territory, which is why we offer such a variety of styles, colours, and sizes, to allow you to find the ideal choice for your next garden paving project, with each offering a unique look and features.
For more inspiration, browse our patio feature kits or view our full range of Garden Paving Slabs.
Top Flowers To Plant this Spring
The Peony
With abundant layers of petals that open into luxuriant, round blooms, peonies are a timeless addition to any British spring bed. Pick a sunny, sheltered spot in well-drained soil, take care not to plant too deep, and note that they prefer not to be moved once established. Peonies will reward you with lush, long-lasting blooms from springtime right through summer.
The Pansy
Pretty and delicate, the demure-looking pansy is beloved by children and adults alike. Choose a hardy variety, plant them good and early and enjoy their delicate flower ‘faces’ from spring right through summer. Pansies look beautiful in a mixed flower bed, providing a colourful carpet for taller, showier blooms.
Final Tips to Prepare Your Garden For Spring
Although winter may feel like a lost cause, there’s still plenty to be achieved in good time for spring. Call Minster Paving today or contact us online for advice or a quote on garden products to prepare for your spring garden project.
Unlike other garden paving specialists, our paving slabs can be bought individually or in packs allowing you to have as many or as little as you need for your patio or paving design.
Because the majority of products are manufactured ourselves, we also have the flexibility to produce special orders and bespoke colours. So, if you haven’t come across exactly what you are looking for, ask and we’ll be glad to help.
The secret to a beautiful garden is know-how. For more inspiration or advice, click to browse through our How-to Gardening guides.