Christmas is over and we’re heading full speed into the new year. Like it or not, the new season is just over the horizon, and it’ll soon be time for your garden to wake from its Winter slumber. Ok, so there’s still a little while to go, but it’s better to be prepared now so that the nice weather doesn’t creep up on you along with the realisation that your garden is still in a poor state.
So what should and shouldn’t be done in the run up to Spring?
There’s no denying some of the coldest weather is yet to come, so there’s a limit to what you can do at the moment, but there are still a few really useful things you can be doing:
1. Get Rid of Dead Plants
If you didn’t already do it before Christmas, now is a really good time to clear out any dead annuals. These won’t be back when spring starts, all they’re doing at the moment is increasing the risk of spreading fungal infection to other healthy plants, so do your best to get rid of them. If they’re obviously infected with something then you should bin them, but if they just look naturally decomposed then chuck them on the compost heap where they might be able to do some good.
As far as perennials go, these will also be looking pretty tired if you haven’t pruned them. As soon as you start to notice growth at the base of these plants you can cut them back and dig out any winter mulch that you may have added for protection. They can then be pruned back ready to grow throughout spring.
2. Get Weeding
Early springtime is a great time to start the fight against weeds. As we all know, they’re pretty relentless but if you start now it’ll make your job easier later on in the year when you want to spend time enjoying your garden rather than working on it. Besides the head start it gives you, the other advantage of weeding in early spring is that the soil is still damp, and therefore much it’s easier to pull weeds from. Oh, and remember that compost pile? Keep weeds away from it or face the consequences of yet more weeds when you apply it to your garden. You have been warned!
3. Mulching and Edging
Another must (if you haven’t already done so) is to apply mulch to your garden. Mulch serves a whole variety a purposes, from feeding the soil to protecting the plants against the cold winter frosts. If you’re looking to replenish a layer of mulch that you applied some time ago, wait until the soil has dried out (if possible) before doing so to avoid leaving things in a damp state.
Another way to get ahead and save time later on is to tidy up the edge between your lawn and flower beds. Not only does this keep things looking neat and well presented, but it also prevents the grass from creeping its way into the flower bed, and all the headaches associated with trying to get rid of it later on.
4. Throw Away Old Tools, Invest in New Ones
Whether or not that Christmas cheque from Aunty Gladys is burning a hole in your pocket, now is a great time to start looking around for new tools. Maybe your old lawn mower has seen better days, or wasn’t up to the job in the first place. Maybe this year is the year you finally get round to cutting back that monstrous hedge that has grown out of control. Whatever scenario you’re faced with, there are a whole range of different tools available to suit your needs. If you only want a cheap chainsaw for a one off job, or an all singing all dancing lawn mower to serve you for the rest of your days, we can certainly help you to make the best choice to suit you.
