Now that the evenings are getting longer and the last of the snow has finally cleared, it’s time to start making those first tentative forays back into the garden. But for all but the most dedicated gardeners, the outdoor space has been neglected for many months, and the prospect of getting it back into shape can be daunting. What can you do now to get the garden back on track?
Clear away winter’s debris
For the past four months or so, your garden has taken a battering. Wind, rain and heavy snowfall have each taken their toll on plants and other garden features, and now is the time to deal with the aftermath. It sounds like a boring task, but think of it as the first stage in setting the scene for a flourishing garden in the coming weeks and months. It’s an exciting time that will shape the success or failure of your garden for the rest of the year.
On a dry day, arm yourself with a rake, plenty of bags and don your gardening gloves then clear all the dead branches, leaves and other debris that’s been blown on to the flower beds. If you don’t already have a compost heap, you can start a new one now – it’ll be ready for use as fertilizer in the autumn.
Sow seeds for summer
Most bulbs and some seeds need to be planted in the autumn, but there are plenty that can be sown in early spring, for blooms all through summer and into the autumn. Flowers that can be sown in March and April include anemones, dahlias, fresias and many varieties of lily. If you’ve left it too late to grow your favourite flowers, the chances are they’ll be appearing fully grown and ready to buy in shops around now.
Many vegetables can be planted at this time of year, so if you’re hoping for a crop of carrots, broccoli, onions or radishes, now’s the time to start planting.
Tool up
If you’re hoping for months of happy gardening in 2010, you’ll need to ensure you’ve got the right equipment. Ensure you have a functioning fork, spade, rake and trowel, and a pair of secateurs will soon become essential as plants being growing at a quicker pace. Sharpen any cutting tools you have now, before the summer growth period gets under way, and look into investing in any tools you’re currently missing. You can buy good quality, lasting tools from a shop like Labour and Wait or Baileys Home & Garden.
There’s some helpful information here on how to sharpen and care for your garden tools.
Make a garden plan
Keeping a garden journal can be a very rewarding way to chart your progress and record successes and failures you can build on in years to come. You can use it to record everything you plant as and when you do it, and also to plan forward. Add photos, write down tips and jot down ideas and inspiration.
Image: Bortescristian
