Spring Gardening Tips for a Thriving Garden!

Spring is finally here! Get ready for longer days, warmer temperatures, and the perfect opportunity to revitalise your garden. After a cold and often damp winter, your outdoor space will need some TLC to prepare for a season of growth. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting started, these five essential spring gardening tips will help you make the most of the season.

Level up your borders!

1. Refresh Your Soil for a Strong Spring Start

After months of rain and cold, your soil will need some attention before planting. The first step is to aerate compacted soil by turning it over with a fork and breaking up any clumps. Adding organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure, will enrich the soil with nutrients and improve drainage.

If you have raised beds or flower borders, consider using CORE EDGE steel lawn edging to keep soil neatly contained while preventing grass and weeds from creeping in. You can find it here.

Tip: Test your soil’s pH levels to determine if it needs amending. Lime can help balance acidic soil, while sulphur can lower pH levels in alkaline conditions. 

2. Prune and Tidy Up Winter Damage

Winter can leave behind broken branches, dead foliage, and tangled plants that need tidying. Early spring is the perfect time to prune shrubs, hedges, and perennials to encourage healthy new growth.

What to Prune Now:

• Summer-flowering shrubs like buddleia (butterfly bush), fuchsia, and hydrangeas – but avoid spring bloomers, as they flower on old wood.
• Roses, cutting just above an outward-facing bud to shape the plant and encourage airflow.
• Dead, damaged, or diseased wood from trees and bushes.

Tip: Clear out debris from garden paths and driveways while tidying. Using CORE PATH and its pre attached weed membrane help prevent weeds and keep your paths looking neat all season long. Check them out here.

Prune back shrubs and perennials in early spring to encourage healthy new growth.

3. Start Planting for Spring and Summer Blooms

Now is the time to start planting hardy annuals, perennials, and vegetables that thrive in spring conditions. For a colourful garden, consider flowers like primroses, crocuses, daffodils, and pansies.

What Vegetables to Sow in Early Spring:

• Carrots, beets, and radishes – perfect for direct sowing into well-prepared soil.
• Lettuce, spinach, and kale – fast-growing leafy greens that can be sown every few weeks for a continuous harvest.
• Peas and broad beans – hardy legumes that can handle cooler spring nights.

4. Mulch to Lock in Moisture and Suppress Weeds

A layer of mulch is one of the best things you can add to your garden in early spring. Mulching helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature, providing an ideal environment for young plants. When applying mulch around the base of your plants, keep it a few inches away from the stems to avoid rot.

Best Eco-Friendly Mulch Options:

• Organic compost
• Wood chips or bark
• Leaf mould
• Straw for vegetable patches

Tip: If you want to create well-defined borders while keeping mulch contained, CORE EDGE is a great solution for preventing spillage into lawns or pathways.

What is Mulching and why is it important?

5. Encourage Pollinators and Beneficial Wildlife

Spring is a crucial time to support pollinators like bees, butterflies, and birds. These creatures play an essential role in your garden’s ecosystem, helping with fruit and flower production.

How to Attract Pollinators:

• Plant bee-friendly flowers such as lavender, foxgloves, and wildflowers.
• Leave a small area of your garden wild to provide shelter for insects and hedgehogs.
• Install a bug hotel or bee house to encourage nesting.
• Avoid chemical pesticides that can harm beneficial insects.

See our previous blog for more information on how you can get your garden Pollinator ready!

Final Thoughts

These spring gardening tips are a sure way to refresh your garden, plant new crops, and encourage biodiversity. By preparing your soil, pruning strategically, planting early crops, mulching, and welcoming pollinators, you’ll set up your garden for a vibrant and productive season.

For high-quality garden products that support your spring gardening efforts, check out The Ideal Garden’s shop for CORE EDGE, CORE PATH, and other sustainable solutions.