You can feel it, can’t you? The mornings are a little brighter, the birds are getting louder, and the garden is starting to give tiny hints that spring is on its way.

After winter, most gardens can look a little tired around the edges. A few soggy leaves here, a sad-looking pot there, and suddenly the whole space feels like it needs a lift. The good news is you don’t need a full weekend makeover to bring it back to life. A few quick jobs now can make the garden feel fresher almost instantly.

First, give everything a tidy. Pick up fallen leaves, remove dead stems and clear out anything that has collapsed over winter. It sounds simple, but a clean garden bed immediately makes the whole space feel more cared for.

Next, refresh your pots. Pull out tired annuals, top up the potting mix, using a potting mix with the red tick symbol (it shows the ingredients meet a high standard) and add something cheerful for the new season. The nursery is packed full of colour so get out there and pick something that makes you smile.  Even one beautiful pot near the front door can make the whole entrance feel brighter.

Third, feed the garden. As plants start waking up, they’ll be looking for nutrients. A gentle slow release fertiliser will give them a boost and help support strong spring growth.  If you really want to wake the garden up combine a slow release with a liquid fertiliser as this is taken up much quicker and the combination shows excellent results. 

Now is also a great time to check your mulch. If it has thinned out over winter, top it back up before the weather warms. Mulch helps hold moisture in the soil, suppress weeds and keep plant roots protected as spring growth kicks in.  If you plan on lots of planting in spring then mulch with compost as it will improve the soil and can be turned in during the planting process.

Finally, sharpen those secateurs and do a light prune where needed. Remove any dead, damaged or crossing growth, but don’t go too hard too early. Think of it as a freshen-up, not a full haircut.

Think of it as giving the garden a gentle nudge before spring takes over and does the rest. 🌿