If you have a garden, you might be looking forward to the summer. Whether you’re planning to host garden parties or barbecues in the warmer months, or simply sit outside with a book and enjoy warmth and nature, you’ll be glad that the cold and dark of winter are fading away.
However, there’s plenty to be done in the garden during springtime so that you can make the most of the summer. Being complacent and neglecting garden maintenance tasks as winter turns to spring can cause issues that interfere with your summer garden plans. Here are some steps you can take to prepare your garden for the warmer months.
Repairing Winter Damage
The winter months can wreak havoc on gardens and outdoor spaces, whether as a result of cold temperatures or the fact that regular maintenance isn’t taking place. This damage can be surprisingly severe.
For example, it’s not particularly uncommon for the windows of greenhouses to break due to the weight of snow and rain, or from the cold of frost. If your greenhouse has become damaged, you may be able to use glass glue to repair its windows. Making sure your greenhouse is unimpaired and clean is one of the first tasks you’ll need to address as the winter months end.
Another thing to attend to is to make sure your gardening tools are still fit for purpose. It’s common for busy, exhausted gardeners to leave them covered in dirt over the winter months, often in a damp shed. Sadly, dirty tools can not only become damaged, but also damage plants due to rust infection or disease. Make sure to clean your tools with warm water and a durable brush if needed. You can even apply linseed oil or similar oils to stop rusting.
Maintaining Soil
Before the rebirth that comes with spring, there is the decay of autumn and winter. You are likely to see dead leaves and other foliage in your garden (particularly in flower beds) that you haven’t picked up over the winter. As soon as it’s warm enough, pick any weeds that you can see too — many invasive plants grow all year round and will likely have been neglected over winter.
Once summer comes, it can be very difficult to manage gardens. The hot, dry conditions can arrive extremely quickly, leading plants to suddenly start consuming water faster than it’s replenished. Although regular watering is essential over the warmer months, you also need to make sure that your soil is in the best possible condition to retain moisture and slow down drying out.
Check soil for rot, mould, or other damage and replace with new soil if needed. When you’re confident that your soil is healthy, add a layer of compost — this helps retain moisture and also reduces the chance of weeds appearing. Regularly turn your soil to prevent the top layer from drying too quickly.
Adding Beauty to Your Garden
While summer is the most vibrant and colorful time of the year when it comes to flowers, spring is when they first bloom. While you likely already have perennial plants and flowers that have bloomed in past seasons, you may want new ones too — plant these as soon as possible once winter starts to fade to get the best results come summer. Flowers like irises, dahlias, and begonias are particularly popular ways to add a splash of colour to the landscape.
When it comes to shrubbery, you’ll need to do plenty of pruning over summer as foliage growth is rapid. It’s worth factoring in how easy any new plant is to prune before you choose it, depending on how many hours you want to spend cutting it back over summer.
For the final touch, you may want to consider garden furniture and ornaments. These will depend on your personal tastes, but should also be clean and well-maintained. Ornaments and furnishings stored in sheds or garages are likely dusty and dirty, so may need a clean-up before summer. You may also want to consider treating wooden furniture to preserve it for coming seasons and years.
The Importance of “Spring Cleaning” for Your Garden
Very little gardening can be done in the winter, and then in the summer it can be extremely difficult to keep on top of watering, pruning, and other outdoor maintenance. The transition of springtime is the perfect time to start preparing for summer so that you can enjoy it without stress. Taking the steps mentioned above can help you to make sure that your garden is healthy, attractive, and enjoyable in the sunnier season.
