Springtime often brings the urge to splurge on your garden. If you understand the correct order to tackle your garden, it will be at least easy while also allowing new growth to not be harmed.
Check for winter damage – try your fence panels, move pots to see if they have broken in frost, walk on any paths or slippery decks, etc. Check for dead plants. List the small areas that need repair or replacement.
- Tidy up lawns and borders
Remove downed branches, wet leaves, and any remaining plant stalks. This can improve air circulation and decrease pests while allowing the newly grown shoots to reach the light. Compost what you can. For advice from Landscapers Gloucester, visit //phoenixgardenersgloucester.co.uk/services/landscaping/
- Prune deadwood (gently)
Trim dead stems from perennials and ornamental grasses (but beware of fresh shoots at the base!). If you are not sure what is alive, adopt a “less in more” strategy instead and cut year on-year.
- Weed while the soil is still soft
Weeds that germinate at the same time as spring flowers can be easier to pull since they don’t have deep roots. A hoe on a dry day will save hours later.
- Feed and mulch
Mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds after adding compost or well-rotted manure to beds. Don’t let mulch contact plant stems to prevent rot.
- Some lawn basics: Rake, edge, and patch
To prevent diseases, rake out moss and thatch from grassy areas to open up the ground for air circulation. Eliminate mulches next to shrubs as they can harbour several disease organisms.
