The frost is starting to thaw, the days are getting longer again… It can only mean one thing—it’s time to prepare your garden for another year of growth and enjoyment!
As a professional garden designer, David gets a lot of queries from friends, family and clients this time of year about how to transition their gardens from winter dormancy into a flourishing spring oasis. So, before you ask, we’ve put together an essential spring preparation guide to get your garden ready to embrace the arrival of spring.
1. Prune Back Grasses and Perennials
Leaving ornamental grasses and perennials untouched during winter gives your garden much-needed structure and visual interest during the colder months. However, as the temperature rises, you should prune them back to encourage fresh growth.
For example, this garden in Marple Bridge is full of ornamental grasses that look stunning in winter, especially when they catch the frost and low sunlight. But now that spring is on the way, we would suggest to the client that they cut them back to make room for new growth.
For grasses, use sharp shears to cut them down to around 10–15cm from the ground. This allows new shoots to grow without competition from last season’s dried stems. Similarly, remove dead foliage from perennials like sedum, echinacea and asters.
Doing this not only clears the way for green growth and maintains your garden’s overall look, but it also prevents pests and diseases from lingering in old foliage—as long as you clean your tools between cuts!
Pro tip: Don’t let your prunings go to waste! Chop them into smaller pieces and add them to your compost bin. This is an excellent way to recycle nutrients back into your garden.
2. Control Destructive Pests—Using Organic Solutions
Plants aren’t the only thing thriving during spring, this is also the time for garden pests’ resurgence. Common culprits like vine weevils, whiteflies and slugs can wreak havoc if left unchecked.
For this plant-rich, tropical-style garden in Chorlton, the lush environment could easily become a haven for pests like vine weevil. That’s why we recommend to the clients that they keep these pests under control. The key is to nip them in the bud (no pun intended) using natural and eco-friendly methods—such as these:
For vine weevils: Inspect the base of your plants and remove any larvae you find in the soil. You can also use Nemasys Biological Vine Weevil Killer, a natural, nematode-based solution that targets the larvae before they cause damage.
For whiteflies: Introduce beneficial insects like ladybirds and parasitic wasps into your garden—as these predators help control whitefly populations—and let nature do its thing!
For slugs: Place beer traps, copper tape or rough materials like crushed eggshells around susceptible plants. Alternatively, you can use Nemaslug, another nematode-based product which controls slug populations under the soil surface.
Taking these preventative measures to manage pest will help maintain a healthy ecosystem in your garden. Whilst not using harmful chemicals will make sure your garden is safe for children, pets and other visitors to enjoy in the year ahead.
Pro tip: Want to go the extra mile? Focus on creating a friendlier habitat for birds, frogs and hedgehogs—all natural allies in keeping garden pests at bay.
3. Finish Winter Pruning of Fruit Trees
Winter pruning is key for maintaining the health, productivity and shape of your fruit trees. It helps direct the tree’s energy into producing better fruit and encourages stronger, more balanced growth. Pruning is also a great opportunity for you to inspect the tree for pests and other issues before they get out of control.
When the orchard in this Alderley Edge garden was planted, we recommended developmental pruning to the client as an essential step to make sure the fruit and nut trees stay healthy and to improve the quality and quantity of their harvest.
If you’re short on time, focus on removing dead, diseased or damaged branches first. Then, thin out crowded areas to improve airflow so the spring sunlight can reach every part of the tree. This is especially important for apple and pear trees, because good air circulation helps prevent diseases like scab and canker.
Pro tip: Always make clean cuts just above a bud or branch junction, and sterilise your pruning tools between trees to prevent the spread of disease.
4. Start Propagating Seeds for Spring Veggies and Salads
Get a head start on your spring garden by propagating seeds indoors or in a greenhouse. Early crops like lettuce, spinach and radishes, as well as summer favorites like tomatoes, cucumbers and courgettes, can all be started now to make sure you have a bountiful year.
When we have clients who are keen gardeners, like those in this Wilmslow project, who wanted an allotment garden incorporated into the design, we recommend propagating and growing their veggies and salad crops from seed. They loved the idea so much that virtually every windowsill in their home is always lined with seed trays in preparation for spring—a success in our eyes!
Not sure where to start? Use seed trays or small pots filled with light, well-draining seed compost. Sow your seeds at the recommended depth, water gently and place the trays in a warm, bright spot—such as a sunny windowsill or under grow lights. Keep the compost moist but not waterlogged, and watch for the first signs of germination.
Once the first true leaves appear, pot the seedlings up into larger containers or harden them off before planting outdoors when the weather warms.
Pro tip: Stagger your sowing to keep a continuous harvest of veggies and salads throughout the season. And remember to label your seeds!
5. Apply Fresh Mulch and Nutrients to Planting Beds
Now that you’ve pruned the grasses, taken care of the pests and propagated the seeds, it’s time to refresh your garden beds with a new layer of mulch. Mulching helps retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, regulate soil temperature and gradually improves soil structure as it breaks down, all of which helps to create the ideal conditions for your plants to thrive. Above all, it keeps your beds looking neat and tidy!
Before applying mulch, clean the beds thoroughly by removing weeds and loosening the top layer of soil. Then, spread a 5–7cm layer of organic mulch over the surface—I recommend using bark chips, compost or well-rotted manure.
For an extra boost, incorporate a balanced fertiliser like blood, fish and bone into the soil before mulching. This provides essential nutrients to support strong growth throughout the spring and summer months.
Pro tip: Keep mulch at least 5cm away from the base of plants to prevent rot and fungal diseases.
Watch Your Garden Blossom This Spring
These are the same pointers we share with our clients, and they’ve proven to make all the difference year after year. By following these tips, you’ll prepare your garden to thrive well into the summer months too!
If you’re looking for personalised advice or a garden redesign, we’re here to bring your vision to life—get in touch now.
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