It’s a busy time for gardeners, as there are many jobs that need to be done in preparation for the explosion of colour in the garden. It's a time for new beginnings - and while some parts of your garden will bloom naturally, other aspects will need a helping hand.
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Spring seeds
Now’s the time to start sowing seeds that require a longer growing season. These include begonias, geraniums, antirrhinums, aubergines and peppers. You can start them off in a heated propagator to promote good growth.
It's also a good time to order summer-flowering seeds and bulbs such as gladioli, lilies and ranunculi – ready for planting in mid-spring.
If you have a vegetable patch, there are plenty of options for seeds that you can plant now. Sow your cauliflower, kale, parsnips, rhubarb, strawberries and potatoes as soon as possible.
Lawn care
If your lawn is looking a bit tired after the ravages of winter, add a high-nitrogen fertiliser and plant new seeds over any dead patches of grass. Ideally, start your lawn mowing in March with a high cut of dry grass.
In April, as the weather gets warmer and lawn growth increases, your mowing frequency should increase too. Start off mowing the lawn every two weeks, then reduce it to 10 days and by June, you should be mowing it weekly.
The ideal height is about 1.5 inches, as the lower you go, the more maintenance it needs to keep it looking tidy.
Seasonal jobs
If you didn't get round to dividing your herbaceous perennials last autumn, you'll need to do this on a dry spring day. Once you've divided them, plant them in your chosen spot and give them plenty of water.
Although it's a job we tend to hate, spring is the time for deadheading your flowers. It's a necessary evil to ensure your bulbs will continue flowering year after year.
Prune any areas of the garden where old foliage is left over from last season. Cutting it back makes your garden look tidier and more spacious. Tidy evergreen perennials, such as ornamental sedges, and certain Kniphofia (red hot pokers), by removing dead foliage. Remove any dead stems or flower heads.
If any plants are showing signs of disease, such as mildew or leaf spots, separate and burn the diseased material. Do some weeding and give your borders a general tidy-up.
Compost heap
If you haven't done so already, now is a great time to start your compost heap. Build your own compost bin using spare wood, or you could simply buy a ready-made compost bin if you don't feel up to it.
When your organic waste has broken down, you will have a rich compost that will help your plants to thrive. Add a balanced mix of grass clippings, woody stems, vegetable peelings and paper. To help it to mulch properly, turn the compost regularly with a garden fork to keep it aerated.
Carry out pest control in the borders and in your greenhouse, looking out for snails, slugs, aphids, vine weevil larvae and any other bugs which might decide to eat your garden. Get them under control as soon as possible, before the warm summer weather kicks in.
Garden storage
When you begin your garden's spring tidy-up, make sure you have the best storage solutions for your gardening tools and equipment.
Solent Plastics' Titan 300-litre water-resistant storage box is ideal for storing gardening tools, outdoor toys, barbecue items and compost.
Alternatively, our smaller 120-litre heavy-duty lockable storage box is suitable for storing smaller gardening tools, bulbs, gardening shoes and gloves.
We also stock outdoor cabinets, such as our Titan tall storage cabinet. Great for storing compost, bird and animal feeds, gardening tools, wood or barbecue items, it features shelves with a 30kg per-shelf load capacity.
Give us a call on 01794 514478 for further information on our range of garden storage solutions.