The New Year is the perfect time to rearrange your garden, up-cycle old furniture or attempt at attracting more wildlife into your garden. We want to help you prepare for spring, before you get left behind!
So if you’re longing to reconnect with your garden after a long wintery break, make sure you complete these preseason tasks as soon as possible:
Clear drains, gutters and flower beds!
After the wintery months you may find that lots of leaves and debris have made themselves comfortable in your drains and gutters. Clear these away to avoid a build up and allow running water escape after ‘April showers’.
Check your garden structure gutters for any blockages and ensure that no wildlife has taken shelter over winter in your shed or greenhouse.
Clear all your flowerbeds of fallen leaves to prevent infestations. Replace broken or damaged plant pots, fences and equipment.
Prepping your lawn
You should rake your lawn to remove any dead growth and debris before spring arrives. This allows the soil to get adequate sunlight and moisture for best growth of grass and plants.
By perforating the soil on your lawn using a garden fork or automated aerator, you can avoid water logging. It also allows your soil to get a good quantity of natural air, which is ideal for best plant and grass growth. This should be done in the early spring and autumn months so avoid doing this in the dead of winter, as the cold temperatures can cause the holes to crack!
Also get remove any weeds that have annoyingly appeared over the last few months!
Clear out your shed and greenhouse!
Out with the old and in with the new! Have a clear out of your sheds, garages and greenhouses. Check that all of your equipment is still usable after the frosty winter months.
Make sure the heating system in your greenhouse is still in working order and don’t forget to clear the roof of debris to ensure your plants get the best of the sunlight and it doesn’t build up over time.
Organisation is key!
Draw up a plan of your garden and label where you plan to plant everything or place any new furniture. There are tonnes of inspiration for up-cycling old furniture for use in the garden on the Internet, especially on websites like Pinterest.
Make a list of any seeds, bulbs or tools you may need to purchase ready for spring. There are also lots of plants and vegetables you can begin sowing indoors or uncover from January onwards. Here are a few:
- Sweet peas are perfect for growing in a greenhouse or indoors now
- Chrysanthemums seeds can be sown from now in a greenhouse
- Celery can be grown from January in a heated propagator
- Strawberries can be grown now under a cloche or cold frame from February, ready for an early summer crop
- Cucumber & tomato seeds can be sown from now in warm conditions
- Basil can be grown all year round in doors, perfect for adding to any dish!
So, these are just a handful of things you can be doing in and for your garden at this time of year. Remember, if you fail to prepare for the upcoming growing season, you should prepare to fail – and the Hill’s Team would hate to see that!