5 Tips to Prepare Your Garden for Spring

Preparing your garden as early as possible not only gives you a head start on your Spring gardening but reaps benefits throughout the whole year. These top tips can help you focus on tackling your garden early so it'll already look it's best when the season changes next month and you'll feel less pressured and rushed when the weeds kick in!

Order Summer flowering bulbs

March is the perfect time to plant your spring flowering bulbs such as gladioli, lilies and ranaculous. Mixing different bulbs and species will give you a riot of colour come the summer lasting through to October. Good quality bulbs can be expensive but you can buy bulbs online at trade prices from Flower Bulbs Inc. They supply fantastic quality bulbs at very reasonably prices and deliver to your door. Check what conditions your bulbs need before you choose where to plant and make sure the soil is well drained so they don't rot come the Winter. Order now so you are ready to plant next month.

Clear up those beds and boarders

Unless you had a proper good clear out in the Autumn chances are your boarders look a bit of a mess. Get in there and cut back dead growth and clear up leaves a debris. Chances are it'll be pretty cold and wet out there so make sure you have some study footwear like these neoprene work wellingtons from Engelbert Strauss which are 100% waterproof and provide comfort down to -20c. This thermal lining can help guard against chilblains, which I experienced for the first time this Winter, and keep your feet fully protected so you can work longer in the cold weather.

Install a water butt

Harvesting rain water is great for the environment while keeping keep your plants happy. You can grab a basic model from your local gardening centre but if you are after something a bit special which will be attractive in your garden try Water Butts Direct who supply a wide range of decorative water butts including wooden barrels, butts with planters on top and rattan wicker effects in bright colours.

Prune roses

Roses should be pruned early because pruning before the leaf buds open causes the rose bush to put its full energy into new growth.  Make your cuts clean, at a 45-degree angle about 1/4 inch above a bud that is facing toward the outside of the plant. Also feed them at the same time because they are actively growing and need the nutrition. All all purpose rose feed or all purpose fertilizer is fine.

Tend to the fixtures

Make sure the rest of your garden is Spring ready - not just the plants! Fix those loose paving stones, get some trellis to tidy the climbers, straighten the flower boxes and stain the benches. Generally make sure the rest of your garden looks as good as your borders! It's amazing how it all comes together to make the outside space more inviting as the weather improves.

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