With the arrival of slightly less cold weather and less rain, it’s time to think about how you can get the most out of your garden this spring.
Tidy
Use the time in spring to prepare for the summer months by tidying up the garden. Clear your borders and flower beds of dirt and dead leaves. Weed these areas and put down some mulch while the soil is still moist.
Remove any fallen branches from the garden and prune hydrangeas, lavender and rosemary. Between March 1 and July 31, hedge trimming is not permitted to allow birds to nest. So make sure this is done before the deadline.
Planting summer bulbs
At this time of year you have plenty of choice of summer bulbs and seeds, while garden centers and nurseries have plenty of choice. In milder areas you can plant hardy annuals directly in the ground, but in colder areas you can plant them in pots. Now is also a good time to plant some perennials, including oriental poppies and geraniums.
Annuals and perennials can be planted from late March to May, although in southern Britain the soil may warm up earlier. Sweet peas can be planted now to provide a rainbow of color in June or July.
Open your house
Consider installing some French doors in your home to make access to the garden much easier and connect the outdoor and indoor spaces. With styles to suit any home, you can have sliding, hinged or bi-fold patio doors in a range of materials that define the style. costs for patio door.
French doors allow more natural light into your home, improve ventilation and give you more usable space as the exterior becomes an extension of your kitchen or dining room. In spring you can leave the patio doors open and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the garden, without having to go outside.
Maintenance work
Now that spring weather is approaching, you can finally go into the garden to carry out all the necessary maintenance work that you were unable to carry out in winter. Check your fencing for loose or broken panels, make sure your shed roof is intact, and fix that wobbly fence.
If you’ve been putting off building a dedicated compost bin, now is the time to do it. Spring is the ideal time to work on these tasks in the garden as the weather is mild and pesky insects should be kept to a minimum.
Build a wildlife habitat
While you’re in a building mood, why not create a wildlife habitat in a quiet part of your garden? It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate. A simple birdhouse, bee sanctuary or pile of leaves and logs as a refuge for hedgehogs can make a big difference to the struggling wildlife in your area.
Consider not mowing your lawn for a few months. Daisies, clover and primroses provide insects and animals with food and look very beautiful in the spring. Why not install a water feature that wildlife such as frogs and salamanders can benefit from and also add to the aesthetics of your garden?
