Getting Your Garden Ready for Spring
There’s nothing quite like those first days of spring. The birds are singing, bulbs are pushing through the soil, and the scent of fresh growth is in the air. After a long, grey winter, your garden is waking up—and it’s full of potential.
But before the flowers bloom and the veg patch thrives, there’s a bit of work to be done. Here’s how to get your garden in tip-top shape and ready to flourish.
Take Stock and Make a List
Before you do anything major, take a moment to check your inventory. What tools and supplies do you already have? What needs replacing?
Stock up now while garden centres are full of early-season deals. Making a list helps avoid duplicate purchases and keeps you focused. Trust me—it’s far too easy to come home with yet another trowel you didn’t need!
Assess and Tidy Raised Beds
Winter can be rough on raised beds. Get your garden ready for spring season by:
- Clearing away old plants, leaves and weeds
- Checking the structure for damage or rot
- Pruning back any overgrown shrubs nearby
- Loosening compacted soil, and topping up with compost if needed
Now’s also the perfect time to divide your perennials. If some plants are getting a bit crowded, dig them up, divide them, and either replant or share with friends. You might even get something in return!
Sort Your Seeds and Plan Your Planting
If your soil’s still too soggy to plant in, use this time to organise.
- Sort through your seeds, cuttings, and plugs
- Group by cold-weather and warm-weather crops
- Sketch out your planting layout—or mark beds with labels or stakes
Once conditions improve, start planting early spring crops like lettuce, spinach, kale, radish, peas and broccoli. Many of these vegetables will be ready to start harvesting within 30 days, so it’s worth doing as you’re getting your garden ready for spring.
👉 Don’t forget to add some compost to feed your soil before planting!
Warm-weather crops (like tomatoes, cucumbers, runner beans and peppers) can be started indoors and moved outside once things warm up.
Deal with Pest Damage
Winter pests can be sneaky. Keep an eye out for:
- Tunnels and soil mounds from moles or voles
- Gnawed wood, ropes or plastic from mice or rats
- Chewed bags, broken bird boxes or nests in odd places
Collapse tunnels, patch up damage, and reseed any patchy grass areas.
Repair Stonework and Structures
Now’s the time to get your garden ready for spring by tackling any garden features that took a beating over winter.
- Re-lay uneven stepping stones
- Patch up crumbling stone walls
- Rebuild or restack dry stone edging
- Check that trellises, arches and fencing are all secure
It’s much easier to do this now, before the garden fills in and hides the issues.
Clean and Check Your Birdhouses
Give your feathered friends a fresh start by:
- Emptying and cleaning out birdhouses
- Removing any old nests or parasites
- Leaving out piles of nesting materials nearby
- Cleaning and refilling bird feeders and birdbaths
A clean birdhouse is more likely to be used—and it’s a joy watching birds settle in for the season.
Essential Spring Garden Jobs
Here’s a handy spring checklist:
- Remove debris from ponds and water features
- Clean gutters to stop water pooling in the wrong places
- Cut back dead wood and tree suckers
- Move or plant dormant shrubs and trees
- Clean and disinfect pots and containers
- Check hoses and watering systems for leaks or kinks
👉 Do I need to clean my pruning shears? Here’s why it matters.
Quick Spring Gardening Tips
- Rotate your crops to avoid soil exhaustion and reduce pests
- Avoid walking on wet soil to protect its structure
- Run rows north to south for balanced sun exposure
- Be gentle when digging—some perennials are still slow to appear
- Stagger your sowing—plant half your rows now, half in a few weeks, to avoid gluts
👉 Which is better for your garden: chipped mulch or shredded mulch?
Not Sure What to Plant Where?
If you’re wondering what gardening zone you’re in, here’s a useful tool for UK gardeners:
🌱 UK Hardiness Zone Map – PlantMaps.com
Ready to Get Growing?
A bit of prep now will make a huge difference to your garden this spring—and it’s a lovely way to shake off winter and reconnect with your outdoor space.
If you’d like a hand getting your garden in shape, whether it’s clearing beds, dividing perennials, or prepping the soil, we’re here to help.
Explore our spring garden services
Do you have a gardening or landscaping question? Send us a message and we’ll do our best to answer!
