Using the garden throughout winter and spring, for a Brit, is just unheard of. That might mean that your garden needs some TLC before summer swings around.

Not to worry, though - spring is the perfect time to whip your garden into shape! From planting new blooms and tidying up flower beds to trimming hedges and lawns, there are lots to do to help your displays look their best.

Prep Your Borders

Over winter, your flower beds and borders will have taken a bit of a hit. Now that soil has warmed up, it's a great time to start pulling weeds and prepping the area before planting late spring and summer plants. 

Pull weeds, prune bushes, remove big stones from the soil, and even give the soil a good turning over with mulch before you plant anything. 

Start Tender Plants Indoors

Up until May, surprise frosts could still be on the cards. Plants like Dahlias and Begonias can be started indoors before summer, which helps them to flower sooner. They're quite tender, so starting them off early can also help avoid damaging the plant before it even gets a chance to bloom. 

Plenty of seeds can be started indoors from mid to late spring, too. Flower seeds like cosmos, petunias, and salvias should be sown from March and kept somewhere warm. Vegetable seeds like sweet peppers, aubergines, and cucumbers can be sown from March. Tomato seeds can also be started from March and kept under glass until they've germinated. 



Stock Up On Drought-Tolerant Plants

Summers are getting hotter, and the chance of heatwaves increases each year. But don't worry, there are some things we can do to avoid a complete garden disaster. 

Drought-tolerant plants are perfect blooms for heat waves. They love the sun, don't mind a bit of a drought, and don't need constant watering. That doesn't mean you have to completely avoid growing your favourite summer blooms though - regardless of their hardiness. 

Verbena, lavender, and salvia are all great drought-tolerant options that can withstand intense heat without wilting or dying back. 

Mulch Your Plants

Mulching plants with a layer of organic matter can help the soil retain moisture. You can use any type of organic matter, from compost to homemade mulch. Homemade usually includes leaves, grass clippings, bark, and straw/hay. 

Attract Wildlife

Summer is peak wildlife season. Thanks to the warm weather, all kinds of critters and pollinators can be seen milling around the garden. 

Here are a few things you can add to your garden this summer to give them a safe haven:

- Add in some water sources like bird baths, fountains, or ponds. 
- Plant more bushes and trees to give them a natural home
- Keep grass longer in some areas of the garden
- Make a hedgehog hole in your fences to give them access to your garden
- Leave out bird feeders to give them nutrition during their chick-raising season



Plant Summer-flowering Bulbs

March, April, and even May are peak summer bulb planting months - particularly for gladioli, lilies, and ranunculus bulbs. These bulbs can be planted directly outdoors in these months. 

Want to know what else you can plant at this time of year? Explore our bulbs and tubers page to find inspiration. 

Start Collecting Rainwater

To prepare for warm weather and even droughts, collecting rainwater now could be a lifesaver. Last year, many southern counties saw water bans because of droughts, and collecting your rainwater in water butts can help you get around this issue. 

Water butts can be used to collect rainwater. If you struggle for space, there are smaller options available. You could also just pop down a bucket on a rainy day! Reusing household water is also a great way of watering your plants in warm weather - simply use washing-up water or 'grey water'. 



Trim Summer-flowering Hedges

Spring is the best time to trim summer flowering shrubs or spring flowering shrubs that have finished flowering. Fuchsias, Buddleia, Hydrangea and Hibiscus are examples of shrubs you can prune in spring before they flower in summer. 

Dust Off Your Garden Furniture

Late spring is the perfect time to take your garden furniture out of retirement. Give them a good clean, dust off those cobwebs, and get ready for some leisurely lounging as sunny days come our way!