Get out in the Garden: Spring jobs to be doing around the garden

Guest Post by Abigail Smith

Spring is finally upon us and we’re finally able to kiss goodbye to those cold frosty mornings and early dark nights. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the trees are beginning to bloom which can only mean it’s time to resurrect your garden.

With the property specialists at the Open Property Group recently highlighting that a well maintained and inviting garden can add as much as 20% to the value of your home, there is no better job you can do this weekend than tidying up those borders and ripping out those weeds.

Before you start planting new flowers and shrubs, you need to revitalise your soil as it’s likely to be packed and dried out after winter so it’s important you add moisture. This can be done by adding organic matter such as compost or manure, a layer of five centimetres will do the trick. Also, it may be useful to add some fertiliser to increase the available nutrients in the soil as this will help to extend the life of your plants.

As well as this, be sure to tidy up your flower beds and their borders, removing any leaves and debris, doing the same for your lawn, and if you’re lucky enough to have one, your pond too.

When you’re ready to plant your flowers, the first task is pretty easy and perfect for early on, when it’s still pretty chilly outside. Order some summer-flowering bulbs and seeds as these can be planted at the beginning of spring and make for a beautiful colourful summer display.

The likes of lilies, ranunculus and gladioli are always popular choices and the large range of colours will cheer you up during the gloomiest of British summers. As well as preparing for summer, you’re also going to want to plant some good spring plants such as snapdragons, primulas, primroses, lilacs, tulips and pansies.

Be sure to remember to opt for perennials as opposed to annuals as the latter have to be replaced every year and the maintenance can become rather tiresome -whereas perennials will last up to three years and hardy perennials are able to survive tough winters.

Installing water butts will collect winter’s rainfall, this comes with a host of benefits – especially in a hot, dry summer when there is bound to be a hosepipe ban.

You’ll be doing your bit for the environment and rain water is better for watering ericaceous plants as tap water is neutral to alkaline. Just make sure the butt is positioned near to a downpipe to fully reap its benefits.

If you want a veg patch in your garden then the middle of April is the time you should be filling the patch with crops. You can start things off in pots now to be prepared for when the soil is ready.

Simply hoe off any weeds and rake them up and then fork the soil over before again sprinkling on that fertiliser and the things you’re now able to sow is endless whether its carrots, lettuces, rocket, spring onions, beetroots, you name it!

Though be sure to sow sparingly as fresh seeds have a high germination rate and this will ensure that you make the most of every seed – and your money.