New Year, New Garden: 5 Ways To Get Your Garden Ready For Spring

Spring is nearly here, and with that, comes exciting new blooms. Many of us take to spring cleaning as a way to welcome in new beginnings – and our gardens should not be forgotten in these upcoming routines. In this article, we will be discussing our top five ways to get your garden ready for spring, including everything from cleaning and decluttering to planting an array of new plants. 

1. Clean and Declutter

As a new season approaches, it provides the perfect time to initiate your spring cleaning routine. While many of us focus on deep-cleaning our homes during this transitional period, we should also remember our garden may be in need of some love and care. Your garden can also use a good tidy up before spring hits. 

In this article from The Spruce titled ‘12 Essential Spring Cleaning Tasks for the Garden’, it discusses all the ways to clean up your outdoor space before the change in season. For example, pruning your woody perennial flowers and plants. According to this article, ‘some shrubby plants with woody stems (artemisia, buddleia, caryopteris, lavender, etc.) need to be cut back each spring because they only bloom on new branches’. We would also recommend inspecting your garden beds and borders too. By keeping a keen eye out for weeds and safely removing them, you can create a clean slate for new growth in spring. 

2. Soil Preparation

As you dive into your spring cleaning checklist, don’t forget to give your soil some attention. Spring heralds a season of new growth, making it crucial to ensure that your soil is primed for the upcoming plantings in your garden. Our expert gardening team prioritises soil testing during this time to assess its pH level and readiness for nurturing the array of new plants destined for your garden beds.

If the soil isn’t quite up to scratch, your local gardening service will be able to amend the soil – whether that be through compost, adding a layer of organic matter, or fertilisers. The main aim will be to get the soil to peak fertility and structure. 

3. Planning and Design

Is a new garden design on your spring cleaning list? Sometimes, a new season can mean a fresh start and spring can be the perfect time to put some effort into planning and designing your outdoor garden. With spring comes warmer weather and as that leads into summer, you are going to want to ensure your garden is ready for entertaining. We would recommend sketching out a rough design plan for your garden layout first. 

By working with your design and garden team, you will be able to adequately consider the water drainage, sunlight exposure and plant compatibility. Our experts can also help you with researching plants and choosing the suitable ones for your region and climate.

4. Introduce Aromatic Plants

Speaking of plants, we would recommend adding some aromatic plants to your garden that will thrive in spring and are a great way to elevate your garden space. Aromatic herbs and flowers can be beneficial in many ways. Firstly, herbs such as lavender, mint and rosemary smell delightful, making your garden the perfect place to host in spring. 

Also, herbs can be naturally deterrents for pesky bugs that may destroy your plants. Placing these throughout your large garden or estate can bring beauty and protection alike. Herbs are also great when it comes to entertaining. If part of your 2024 garden plans is to input an outdoor kitchen, then herbs can be a great addition as well. For all our outdoor kitchen chefs, fresh herbs can be a great way to bring some of your favourite dishes outside!

According to this article titled ‘7 Ideas For A Springtime Garden Clean-Up’, from RestLess.com, you can also utilise this time in the lead up to spring to search your garden for current pests. This blog piece states that ‘from slugs and snails to aphids and earwigs, there are plenty of pests to watch out for in the average UK garden, and all can damage your plants in a variety of different ways’. This late winter, get ahead of the new season by inviting helpful bugs into your garden and removing any that may be hindering your plants.

5. Attract Beneficial Insects

Are you thinking about planting some new blooms in your garden, ready for spring? With the new year can come new inspiration for your garden arrangement. During this time, why not consider attracting beneficial insects in the process? If you are looking to create a beneficial and balanced ecosystem in your garden, you can consult your gardening team and they can point you in the right direction when it comes to flower choices. 

Some flowers can attract a plethora of helpful insects which can enable your garden to flourish all year round. For example, Huddleja and Sedum are like magnets to butterflies. Huddleja is brightly coloured and can create a beautifully vibrate display that lasts right through to autumn. Sedum is also bright when it comes to its array of colours, but are also reliable and hardy flowers. It’s important to attract pollinators in your garden, such as bees and butterflies, through the correct selection of flowers and plants. 

Also through your plant selection, you can introduce other beneficial creepy crawlies into your garden. For example, lady bugs and other predatory beetles act as natural pest control and can help your flowers thrive. 

BZ Gardens – Surrey Based Professional Gardening Services

To make the most out of spring, it’s time to start getting your garden ready now! Here at BZ Gardens, we understand the importance of garden maintenance, no matter the season. If you are looking to increase the vitality of your outdoor space in time for hosting season, and would like to speak to our team here at BZ Gardens, please contact us on 01483 967160.