Spring is the perfect time to refresh your outdoor space and get your garden blooming beautifully.
Whether you’re growing vibrant spring flowers, revamping your garden beds, or tackling some much-needed maintenance, preparation is key.
Gardening preparation for spring: 11 tips and tricks
With these 11 gardening tips and tricks, you’ll set the stage for a lush and thriving garden.
1. Tidy up flower beds and borders
The first step to gardening preparation for spring is tidying your flower beds and garden borders. Remove dead organic matter, like fallen leaves, twigs, and plant debris, to expose bare soil. Clearing these away helps prevent diseases and creates a clean slate for your spring plants.
Pay special attention to any winter weeds that have crept in. Pulling them out early prevents them from competing with your garden plants later in the season.
This is also a good time to edge your garden borders to give your outdoor space a polished and organised look.
If you're hiring a professional to landscape your garden, be sure to hire reputable landscapers. This ensures proper garden bed construction, drainage, and soil preparation, avoiding costly mistakes. For more information, see our helpful guide on how to avoid cowboy builders.
2. Remove garden pests
Before you plant anything, inspect your garden for pests that may have overwintered. Slugs, snails, and aphids are common culprits. Check under pots, mulch, and in sheltered spots where they may be hiding.
Introduce natural predators like ladybirds or set up slug traps for a wildlife-friendly approach. Keeping pests at bay early in the growing season gives your plants the best chance to thrive.
3. Maintain fences and gates
Spring is a great time to assess and maintain the structures in your garden. Check for loose panels, peeling paint, or damaged posts on your fences and gates. Repairing them now prevents further wear and tear during the summer.
Consider giving wooden fences a fresh coat of weatherproof paint or stain. Not only does this improve their durability, but it also spruces up your outdoor space.
Now's also a good time to check your pipes and outdoor taps for damage caused by freezing over winter. For help on this subject, see our handy guides on how to thaw a frozen condensate pipe and how to avoid frozen pipes.
4. Get your shed in order
Your shed is the command centre for garden tools, so it’s time to get it in shape! Organise tools, sharpen blades, and oil moving parts to ensure they’re ready for action. If your old equipment has seen better days, consider investing in a new garden toolset.
While you’re at it, take stock of supplies like compost, potting soil, and plant supports. Pre-assembling items like tomato cages saves time when the busy spring planting season begins.
5. Start or turn over your compost pile
Spring is the ideal time to turn over your compost pile or start a new one. Mix layers of green material, like grass clippings, with brown material, such as dead leaves and shredded paper.
Adding well-rotted compost to your garden soil enriches it with nutrients, improves texture, and boosts water retention. Compost also helps reduce garden waste and is a sustainable way to support your growing plants.
6. Start collecting rainwater
Tap water may be convenient, but rainwater is better for plants, especially for those that thrive in alkaline soil. Set up a water butt or rain barrel to collect water from your gutters.
This eco-friendly step ensures your plants have a supply of soft water during dry spells. It’s also a practical way to lower your water bill while keeping your garden thriving.
7. Prepare garden soil
Healthy soil is the foundation of a successful garden. In early spring, loosen compacted soil by tilling or turning it with a spade. Mix in organic matter, like compost or well-rotted manure, to improve texture and nutrient content.
If you’re unsure about your soil’s needs, a soil test can help determine pH levels and nutrient deficiencies.
Amending your soil early in the season ensures your garden plants have the best start possible.
8. Clear out mulch, weeds and debris
Removing old mulch, weeds, and debris is crucial for maintaining healthy garden beds. Fresh mulch can smother new plants, so it’s best to rake it away and add it to your compost pile.
Weeds can rob your soil of nutrients and water. Pull them out by the roots to prevent regrowth. Once your beds are clear, you’ll have a clean canvas for sowing seeds and planting bulbs.
9. Prune shrubs and trees
Early spring is the perfect time to prune shrubs and trees that bloom on new wood. Pruning promotes healthy growth and keeps plants from becoming overgrown.
When pruning, sterilise your tools to prevent diseases from spreading. Remove dead, damaged, or overcrowded branches, but avoid cutting back spring-flowering shrubs until after they bloom.
Adding a little fertiliser afterwards helps plants recover quickly.
10. Plant early
Plant early to get a head start on the growing season. Hardy vegetables like onions, lettuce, and artichokes can be sown early. You can also start sowing seeds indoors for later transplanting.
Spring flowers, such as snowdrops and crocuses, add instant colour to your garden. Planting bulbs and bare-root perennial plants now ensure a vibrant display in the following spring.
11. Apply mulch
Once your beds are tidy and planted, add a layer of mulch to get your garden ready. Mulch helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.
Organic mulches, like wood chips or straw, decompose over time, enriching your garden soil. Apply a thick layer around established plants, leaving a wide berth around the stems to prevent rot.
The best garden flowers for spring
Spring is the perfect time to fill your garden with vibrant, colourful blooms that welcome the season and attract pollinators. Here’s a closer look at some of the best spring flowers to plant for a stunning spring display.
Primrose
Primroses are classic spring favourites, offering cheerful pops of colour in shades of yellow, pink, purple, and white. These hardy perennials thrive in partial shade and moist, well-drained soil, making them a versatile choice for borders, containers, and woodland gardens.
Primroses are one of the earliest spring flowers to bloom, often appearing in February and lasting through May. They’re also a hit with pollinators, particularly early bees. For best results, plant primroses in clumps for a naturalised look and deadhead regularly to encourage more blooms.
Flowers: February to May
Snowdrops
Snowdrops are among the first flowers to announce the arrival of spring, sometimes blooming as early as January. These delicate white blooms thrive in sunny or lightly shaded areas with moist, well-drained soil.
Popular varieties like Galanthus nivalis and Galanthus elwesii offer slightly different flower shapes and sizes, perfect for adding variety to your garden.
Snowdrops are easy to grow and will gradually form clumps that can be divided and replanted for a bigger display each year.
Flowers: January to March
Crocus
Crocuses bring a burst of jewel-toned colours to your garden with shades of purple, yellow, and white. These low-growing bulbs thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, making them ideal for borders, rock gardens, and even lawns.
Crocuses bloom early, often poking through the last remnants of snow in February or March. They’re fantastic for attracting pollinators like bees, who are eager for nectar after the winter months.
Plant them in drifts for maximum impact and enjoy their cheerful blooms year after year.
Flowers: February to March
Daffodils
Daffodils are the quintessential spring flower, known for their sunny yellow petals and distinctive trumpet shape. They’re easy to grow and thrive in a range of conditions, from full sun to partial shade and in most soil types.
Plant daffodils in autumn for a spring display that lasts from March through May. These hardy perennials are perfect for borders, pots, and naturalizing in grassy areas.
To extend your display, choose a mix of early, mid, and late-flowering varieties like 'Tête-à-Tête' or 'King Alfred.'
Flowers: March to May
Hyacinth
Hyacinths are beloved for their intensely fragrant, bell-shaped flowers that bloom in shades of pink, purple, blue, and white. These spring bulbs thrive in full sun to partial shade and prefer rich, well-drained soil.
Plant hyacinth bulbs in the autumn for a stunning display in March or April. They work beautifully in containers, borders, or even as indoor plants. Regular deadheading keeps the plants looking tidy, and the fragrance alone makes them a must-have for spring gardens.
Flowers: March to April
Tulips
Tulips are a spring garden staple, offering endless variety in colours, shapes, and sizes. From classic single blooms to frilly double petals, tulips thrive in sunny spots with well-drained soil.
Plant tulip bulbs in the autumn for a vibrant spring display from April to May. To create a striking visual effect, plant them in clusters or layers for a 'lasagna planting' technique.
Combine early, mid, and late-flowering varieties for weeks of uninterrupted blooms. Popular choices include Darwin hybrids and parrot tulips.
Flowers: April to May
Forget-me-nots
Forget-me-nots are small but mighty, with clusters of tiny blue flowers that thrive in shady, moist areas. These self-seeding plants are great for ground cover, filling in spaces between larger plants with a sea of delicate blooms.
Ideal for spring gardens, forget-me-nots grow best in woodland settings or shaded borders. They pair beautifully with daffodils and tulips, creating a natural, romantic look.
Flowers: April to June
Wallflowers
Wallflowers bring warm, rich tones of orange, red, yellow, and purple to your spring garden. These biennials thrive in sunny spots with well-drained soil and look fantastic in borders or mixed with bulbs like tulips.
With their long flowering period, wallflowers add height and fragrance to your garden. Plant them in autumn for a bold display that begins in March and lasts well into May.
Flowers: March to May
Heather
Heather is a low-growing evergreen shrub with pink, purple, or white blooms that add colour to your spring garden. Ideal for acidic, well-drained soil, heather thrives in rock gardens, borders, and containers.
Spring-flowering varieties like Erica carnea bloom from February to April, providing nectar for pollinators and year-round greenery. Heather’s easy maintenance makes it a favourite for low-effort gardening.
Flowers: February to April
Foxgloves
Foxgloves bring vertical drama to your spring garden with their tall spires of tubular flowers in pink, white, and purple shades. These biennials prefer partial shade and moist, well-drained soil, making them perfect for cottage gardens or woodland settings.
Foxgloves bloom from late spring to early summer, attracting bees and other pollinators.
Popular varieties like Digitalis purpurea are striking in mixed borders and can reach impressive heights of up to 6 feet.
Flowers: May to July
When to call in a JustFix professional
If pruning large trees or tackling weeds feels overwhelming, let JustFix help! With our network of vetted tradespeople, including tree surgeons and gardeners, you’ll get professional assistance to prepare your outdoor space for spring.
Simply book through the JustFix app or website, and we'll connect you with a specialist tradesperson. With transparent rates and guaranteed work, you can focus on enjoying your garden while we handle the heavy lifting.
FAQs
How do you prepare a garden bed for spring?
Preparing a garden bed for spring involves several steps to ensure your plants thrive. Start by removing any debris, such as leaves, twigs, or weeds, to clear the area.
Loosen the soil with a garden fork or tiller to improve aeration and drainage. Add organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure to enrich the soil with nutrients.
It’s a good idea to test the soil's pH levels and adjust if needed. Lime can help if the soil is too acidic, while sulfur can lower pH in alkaline soil.
Finally, rake the soil level to create a smooth surface for planting. This groundwork will give your spring plants the best chance to grow strong and healthy.
When should you tidy a garden for spring in the UK?
The best time to tidy your garden for spring in the UK is in late winter or early spring, usually around February or March. Start once the ground is no longer frozen and conditions are manageable for working.
Cut back any dead or damaged growth on perennials and shrubs, but be mindful of wildlife. Leave some areas undisturbed to provide shelter for hibernating insects or small animals. Tidy up flower beds, remove weeds, and apply a fresh layer of mulch to suppress weeds and retain moisture for the growing season ahead.
Which spring flowers bloom the longest?
Several spring flowers are known for their long-lasting blooms, making them ideal for keeping your garden vibrant over the season. Primroses are a reliable choice, offering weeks of colour when planted in partial shade with moist soil.
Tulips, especially late-blooming varieties, can provide vibrant displays for several weeks when planted in well-drained soil and sunny spots.
Forget-me-nots are another excellent option, producing delicate blue blooms that last well into early summer, especially in cooler conditions. With proper care, these flowers can keep your garden looking lively throughout spring.
