Getting your Garden Ready for Spring
Spring is almost here! It is nearly time to pull out the deck chairs and get the barbecue out. However, before you even think about that, you need to sort your garden space out! This can be a massive task and can appear very daunting, especially so if you have a larger garden that has been left to its own demise for many years.
If you are unsure as to where to start, read our guide below on getting your garden ready for spring.
Initial Garden Tidy Up
With the cold weather behind us and the trees growing new leaves or flowers, the winter has left behind a huge mess. Leaves, dead plants, overgrown hedges and bushes, broken fences and many more objects will need removing or trimming to get them back to a tidier state.
Take a walk around your garden and list all the broken objects that will need repairing or replacing, such as fence panels and decking panels.
You can also pick up any loose sticks, branches, leaves and other debris to begin your compost pile. It is also prime time to begin pulling up any weeds that may have started growing in your flower beds, patio areas or grassed areas.
Plant Pruning and Trimming
If you have flowers or plants already in your garden, they will have now dropped their leaves and flowers meaning that they are completely bare, which makes it perfect for you to begin pruning or trimming them.
When pruning or trimming your plants, we recommend choosing a sharp pair of pruning scissors so that you can cut the branches off in one snip. Pruning your plants and trees is important for their health and prolonging the life of them.
Without pruning them, the plant will find it difficult to grown and strive in the summer.
Plan your garden
If you are planning on creating planting areas for flowers or vegetables, you will need to purchase your bulbs or seeds. Look to vary the colours and types of the flowers you choose as this will mean more wildlife choosing your garden for them to come to.
Similarly, if you are looking to create more seating areas or improve accessibility to the different parts of your garden, choosing the right materials for you is also important.
There are a huge variety of different options for seating areas and paths for you to choose from, which means, no matter the design of your garden, you will find a material to suit you:
- Decking – This is perfect for flat areas where you want a seating area. It can be expensive and time consuming to install however it is a massive selling point and can increase the value of your property
- Patio – This is a simple and effective choice for a seating area or pathway. Patio slabs are available in a huge variety of different colours and shapes so that you can find the perfect one for your design.
- Gravel – This is a cheaper solution for pathways and seating areas. It can also be used for driveways and provide your home with added security due to being able to hear intruders approaching. Similarly to patio slabs, decorative gravel is available in a huge variety of different colours and shapes.
Prepare your areas
If you are choosing to have a planting area for vegetables or flowers, the soil that you wish to plant in must be prepared.
After you have planned and pegged out the area that you wish to plant in, you are ready to begin digging. If it is a pre-existing area that has previously been used to grow vegetables or flowers in, then we advise still digging to clear the area of any shrapnel. For a completely new planting area, begin at the edges and dig down around 3-4cm.
You can then use a pitchfork or rotavator to mix the dug up soil up to become suitable for planting in. In both cases, we recommend adding horse manure or compost to the beds as this will increase the number of nutrients available to your plants and vegetables in that area for a better growth and return. Naturally, the spring rain will pour down and mix the freshly dug up soil and compost mixture so that it is ready for you to plant in.
If you are choosing to install a seating area or pathway with decking, patio or decorative gravel, you will have to thoroughly prepare your planned area. We recommend choosing the flattest area for seating areas as this will stop any furniture slipping or being uneven.
After measuring and pegging out your planned area, you need to dig around 1-2cm down to ensure any grass has been removed. Once you have dug out the area, you can then flatten it out using a plank of wood or flattening tool. After this, you are then ready to lay out your weed protector.
Begin rolling the sheet on one side, ensuring that you have some extra on the sides, and cut using scissors. You can then pin the sheet in the corners and, if it is a large area, in 1m sections. Continue across the area until the sheet is completely covered.
Key tip: Make sure that you overlay 4-5cm with each sheet as this will protect your area from weeds! This preparation is suitable for decking, decorative gravel and patio areas.
Prepare your plants
After purchasing your seeds and bulbs, some will need to begin their growing journey inside your home. We recommend reading the instructions on each packet as some can differ from others. Make sure you look after these plants as if you do not, they will not be able to be planted into your garden!
Finish your areas
At this point, you will have worked your socks off! Luckily, you are on the final stretch. Your flowers growing in your home will now be ready to be planted in your prepared planting area.
Start by making a small hole with your finger and carefully pulling the plant with it’s containing soil out of it’s pot. You can then transfer it to the new hole. Remember to regularly water the newly planted plants to keep them healthy
If you’re choosing a decked, patio or decorative gravel area, you can now finish it off with the equipment. We recommend using high quality materials as this will guarantee a long lasting area that will provide you with many years of enjoyment.
Our Top Tips
- Don’t start too early
- It isn’t uncommon for the British weather to take a turn for the worst. Snow and torrential rain are still possible in March. If you prune your plants and the bad weather happens, you can cover them with a breathable material as this will mean that they won’t be damaged or affected by the harsh weather. We recommend not pruning your plants until you are certain the worst of the bad weather is over.
- Assess your plants and ground thoroughly
- Before pruning and cutting back your plants, ensure that you check their branches and any existing leaves. If you scratch a branch and can see that it is brown underneath the scratched layer, then it is dead. If it is green, it is alive and healthy so should not be removed. Similarly, if you’re looking to create a seating area, you need to assess the ground level for any flooding or groundwater as you will be unable to build on ground that is prone to flooding.
- Choose a trusted supplier and plan your supplies
- Using trusted and tested garden supplies can mean your garden will not only look good but will give you many years of enjoyment. This is especially so for any seating areas such as decking, decorative gravel and patio areas. We recommend choosing materials that are environmentally sourced and won’t cause any harm to the environment.
- Plan well
- The best-produced gardens are always thoroughly beforehand. This way you can anticipate any difficulties that you may have and react accordingly. It also means that you are able to purchase all your materials before in one go instead of in dribs and drabs which will lengthen the time it would take to complete your project. Buying in bulk can also be cheaper!
Sansums are here to assist you with your gardening renovation materials. We have over 40 years experience in supplying the homes and businesses with gardening supplies. Our range includes fence panels, decorative gravel in a wide range of colours and shapes, patio and paving slabs in a wide range of colours and shapes, building aggregates and topsoil, compost and bark.
Our products are available in any amount and we can even deliver it straight to our front door.
Our team are available on the phone on 01793 536784 to help you choose the perfect materials and amount of materials for your project If you are looking to get your garden ready for spring, choose Sansums as your material supplier!