Preparing your Garden for Spring

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It’s started. The nights are getting lighter and longer, and as a result, the girls are wanting to spend more and more time in the garden. We are lucky enough to have a giant outdoor space in our home, and so as soon as we collect Erin from school, the two of them head out on to the patio and the scooters come out, they run around on the grass, and the play area becomes their entertainment of choice.

That said, our garden has been a little bit neglected during the winter months, and therefore is in much need of some TLC. Here are my hints and tips (and our to do list) of how to prepare your garden for Spring.

Tend to your lawn – Unless you choose artificial grass for your garden, sensibly having opted for a more low maintenance option, then the first signs of spring will mean you can expect your lawn to start growing again – and quickly. Giving your lawn a mow once or even twice a week can keep your lawn in tip top condition, and if it’s been through a tough winter, raking out any moss and feeding your lawn can ensure that the colour stays bright and green.
Pressure washing your patio – Our slabs looked fantastic when they were first laid, really clean and light bright grey colour, but inevitably dirt and grime build up during the winter months, making it look dark and dull. Using a pressure washer like K 4 Control Home Karcher can be a great option and help you quickly and easily help breathe new life into your garden. Using a stone detergent can also prevent dirt from returning and protect and care for the surface of your slabs or decking.
Fill the green bins – Our lawn is currently COVERED in the branches of fallen trees, made even worse by some of the fairly erratic weather we’ve had of late. Before the lawn can be mowed, we need to gather up these and fill our green bins ready to remove all the garden waste we will have accumulated. It’s a slow but rewarding job, but the garden looks so much better once the debris is taken away.
Order your seeds – Now is a great time to order those seeds, grow your own and start planting the Spring flowers and vegetables. I tend to use an online seed calendar to identify what seeds I should be planting when and to make the most of growing our own. The girls love getting involved with the seeds and it’s a great way of encouraging little ones to try new foods too. Win win!
Prepare your soil – we tend to see a few weeds pop up and our beds become a bit crowded during the winter months, so the start of Spring is a great time to rip out the unwelcome visitors and prepare the soil for new additions. Sometimes identifying which ones are weeds and which ones are the perennials can be a little bit tricky, but thankfully I have a very knowledgeable Father in Law who is on hand to make recommendations!
Pimp your garden furniture – If your furniture has been left outside all winter, you may find that they need some TLC once the sun starts shining again. Your wooden table and chairs may need a new wood stain or coat of varnish, and although this might seem like quite a time consuming task, it is far cheaper to spruce up your existing set than to buy new.
Make it child friendly – I love having a child friendly garden with lots of elements tailored to make it a special space for them as well as a grown up chill out space. This Spring we have created some new little Stone Bugs to add to flower beds and planters. Not only are these a really fun activity for the girls to make (and something to keep them quiet during rainy days) but they look super cute dotted around outside and can welcome a bit of colour whilst you’re waiting for your flowers to make an appearance.
Prune your bush– cheeky(!) – in the Winter months, plants like buxus in planters can start to get a bit overgrown and out of shape. Giving them a tidy up with a pair of pruning sheers can help them look much neater.
Re-organise the shed – Mike absolutely loves this one *geek*. At the end of last Summer, lots of the garden tools, toys and furniture got shoved into the shed in no particular order, simply to protect them from the elements and get them under cover. As a result, the shed inevitably becomes a bit of a mess and finding the things we need when we need them can be tricky. At the start of Spring, we get everything out (watching out for spiders who may have come to visit!) and sort them back into their rightful places!
Plan your first barbeque – Last but not least, we are British after all, and at the first sign of sunshine it’s time to start planning those barbies! Sausages, buns and burgers at the ready!