Now that Spring has arrived, it’s time to start thinking about getting the gloves out and making sure the garden’s ready for the new season. Bright, new shoots, Spring flowers and best of all, you can enjoy a bit of sunshine.
With temperatures warming up and colourful flowers just starting to unfold, now is a great time to get outside, give the lawn its first cut and welcome in the Spring. Here are some of our top tips for getting the garden ready for another year of growing.
Say bye bye to winter debris
Everyone’s flower beds and growing patches get a little untidy over the winter months, but fallen leaves, windswept twigs and general garden waste can be really useful.
Instead of throwing them away or burning it, pop it on the compost heap to get the best out of the nutrients and microorganisms growing in side. Plant stems and mulchy leaves make a real difference to your garden and even better, they don’t cost a penny.
It’s also a good time to pull up the weeds and turn over the soil, filling it with fresh air and new life. Fighting weeds is a never ending battle and we have some great tools to help you do a good job and keep them at bay.
Nurture seedlings in the home
Whether you love flowers or vegetables, besides garden ready plants, why not grow your own? You can always give yourself a head start by starting seeds for the garden indoors and nurturing them from tiny little shoots.
Cheaper than buying starter plants, you can place them in growing trays or propagators during early Spring before popping them outside when you’re sure we’ve seen the last of the frost. Some recommend the first outdoor sowing to be around April, when the soil is both warm and moist.
If you’re looking to start growing onions and potatoes in trays, it’s worth ordering these now, but remember that potato seeds should be kept in a cool, light environment until at least March, when you can put them outside.
Tidy up shrubs and trees with some pruning
It goes without saying that March is around the best time of year to start cutting back on shrubs and trees. The frost should have gone, so plants are protected and it’s just before the warmer weather sets in. A good prune can lower the risk of disease and really help plants thrive with greenery and fresh new shoots.
Make sure to trim wayward and unwanted branches, taking out thinning growth and removing suckers and water spouts.
Remember that trees and shrubs stay healthier if you take away diseased, dead, or damaged branches. This encourages the right kind of growth by forcing the plants to spread and develop strong branches and a better structure.
Get your garden tools in tip top condition
It’s important to make sure that you maintain garden tools so they’re ready for the job. When that first bright day arrives and have the time to get out there and enjoy the garden, you’re not hindered by blunt, stiff tools.
No doubt your shears and secateurs will need sharpening and cleaning before you get going. You can also use mineral spirits on wooden handles to stop splintering after the Winter break.
If you’re in need of some new equipment, here at Damart we have a range of gardening tools you can choose from the comfort of your own home. We have everything from extendable garden tools, right through to planters and grow houses.
The finishing touch, Garden ornaments
Once the leg work is done and your garden’s looking fresh and tidy, you can add a finishing touch. Bring a splash of fun with our light hearted ornaments to make you smile. We’ve a brilliant range of quirky, humorous pieces from a solar light hedgehog to decorative ducks in raincoats. And don’t forget the birds! We have a range of superb bird feeders from fun ones to impressive feeding stations.
To check out our full collection to keep your garden spick and span why not pop to damart.co.uk which is crammed full of practical tools, beautiful garden planter ideas and gorgeous finishing touches. There’s everything from solar lights to garden furniture and plenty more to inspire you. So what are you waiting for?