Spring Gardening Checklist: 10 Essential Tasks

23 March 2023

Spring has arrived, which means it’s time to get started on our gardening jobs! Here is our spring gardening checklist with 10 essential tasks to get your outdoor space looking great for the warmer months.

1. Start with a tidy up

spring gardening

It’s always a good idea to start with a tidy up before beginning the rest of your gardening jobs. Start by clearing any leaves or debris from your garden using a rake or a leaf blower. Trim down and overgrown hedges, trees or bushes, and cut down foliage from perennials. Starting with a clean slate will make it much easier to get on with your other gardening tasks.

2. Get composting

If you haven’t already started a compost pile, now is the time to do so. Compost enriches the soil, helping to retain moisture as well as preventing plant diseases and pests. It also encourages the growth of beneficial fungi and bacteria which breaks down organic matter to create humus, a nutrient-filled material. This reduces the need for chemical fertilisers which are harmful to the environment. If you’ve never composted before, check out our simple composting guide.

3. Check over your gardening tools

After months of sitting in your garden shed over the winter, your tools may be a bit worse for wear. Give any dirty tools a thorough clean and assess their condition. Some tools like pruners may need to be sharpened so that they work effectively. If any tools need to be replaced, you can browse and compare a wide range of gardening equipment on our website here.

4. Freshen up your garden with a lick of paint

The cold winter has likely taken its toll on your garden fencing, gates and sheds. So why not freshen them up with a lick of paint? You can go for something neutral or experiment with bright spring colours or pastel shades. It is best to opt for weatherproof paint which will withstand the rain and harsh weather conditions.

5. Banish pests without pesticides

Pest control is an important part of spring gardening to protect your plants and crops. However, pesticides are toxic and easily contaminate the air, ground and water. This is especially true when pesticides are not properly discarded of or are sprayed aerially. There are natural ways that you can get rid of pests. You can try homemade insecticides, such as vegetable oil mixed with mild soap. And the simplest alternative to weed killer, is to pull weeds out by hand or by using a weeder. Some find that pouring boiling water over weeds works, or you can make a homemade weed killer by mixing 1 gallon of white vinegar, 1 cup of salt and 1 tablespoon of natural liquid soap.

6. Check your soil quality

Soil quality is very important when it comes to nurturing healthy plants. You can check your soil quality by grabbing a handful and squeezing it tightly. When you open your fist, the soil should crumble instead of forming clumps. If your soil is clumpy, you can enrich it with high-quality compost, using a garden fork to mix it in thoroughly.

Mulching also reduces soil water loss. This means less time you need to spend watering your garden. Using mulch also reduces weeds and soil erosion, keeping your garden healthy and looking great. Using compost and bark chippings as mulch are great options as these or biodegradable and break down naturally. Mulches are most beneficial to use from mid to late spring time, simply place the mulch over moist soil after you have weeded when the soil is not frozen. Mulches should be around 2 to 3 inches thick in order to be effective.

7. Tend to existing plants

spring gardening

Before planting any new bulbs, take some time to tend to your existing plants. Prune any trees and shrubs and trim off any dead branches to keep them healthy. Early spring is also a good time to move any deciduous shrubs you have so that they are protected from harsh winds. Mulch will also help nurture your plants as it helps protect them from weeds.

8. Start planting fruit and veg

spring gardening

Now your soil is nice and healthy, it is time to start planting your spring fruit and vegetable crops. Broccoli, Cabbage, Beetroot, Parsnips, Peas, Radishes and Spinach can soon be sown outside and covered with cloches. And early spring is also your last chance to plant vegetables like tomatoes and chillies which require long growing seasons. As for fruit, spring is a good time to plant rhubarb and strawberries. Strawberries should be potted and taken into the greenhouse.

9. Take care of your lawn

spring gardening

And of course we can’t forget about the lawn. Chances are your lawn is looking a bit overgrown and worse for wear after the harsh winter. Start by getting out your lawnmower and giving your grass a much-needed trim. You should set the mower blades high to avoid scalping. You can also add mulch to your lawn to help with weed suppression and moisture retention.

10. Clean hard surfaces

spring gardening

Spring is also an ideal time to get out the pressure washer and clean all of the dirt and grime which has gathered on hard surfaces during the winter. Give paving, decking and any garden furniture a thorough wash down to get your garden looking sparkling clean. You can check out our blog post on the top 5 pressure washers here.

We hope that you have found this blog helpful and we wish you luck with all of your spring gardening jobs! You can shop a wide range of gardening products and equipment on our website here. And make sure you are following us over on our social medias to keep up with the latest news and product updates. Find us on LinkedInTwitterInstagram and Facebook.

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