Spring is, for many people, their favourite season. It’s often called the Goldilocks time of year, not too hot and not too cold, coupled with an incredible colour palette courtesy of nature. Spring is the ideal time to get your garden ready for the year ahead, and for this piece, the property experts at Goodmove have offered us their top tips on how you can do it.
Many reading this will already see flowers forcing their way out of the ground, ready to reveal their exquisite colour palette. If you want to add to this, now is the time to start. With searches for ”gardening shops near me” rising by 180% over the past seven days¹, it is clear many Brits are seeking ways to turn their gardens into a natural haven.
If you are thinking of taking gardening up as a hobby, want to prepare your outdoor space for the warmer months or add some curb appeal to your property, here are five tips on how to get your garden spring-ready.
Give your garden a spring clean
The first step to getting your garden spring-ready is to get gardening! First, remove all leaves and debris from your lawn and flower beds using a leaf blower or garden utensils. Take notes of areas where your grass needs re-seeding or flowers and shrubbery that need extra attention.
If you’ve got any long areas of grass or perennials, trim them – any excess foliage can block out natural light opportunities in your garden. However, if you have the means, letting areas of your grass grow long will create a habitat for many different plant and insect species, including butterflies and wildflowers.
Maintain fences and gates
Whether it be from damage from wintry weather or just that you fancy giving your garden a new look, maintaining your fences and gates is a great way to get your garden ready for spring. However, if you share your fence with a neighbour, make sure to ask their permission before wielding a paintbrush.
Searches for ”what colour fence paint makes my garden look bigger” have increased by 50% in the past seven days – and we recommend either lighter colours such as off-white or pastels to help create the illusion of a bigger space or blues, which can add depth to the space.
Create a composting area
Adding a composting area is a great way to improve soil health and sustainably discard food waste. To get started, all you need is an old carpet or plastic sheet, though compost bins help with convenience. From newspaper clippings to vegetable peel, all can be added to your compost heap, and this is a great way of making sustainable changes for the future.
What’s more, composting can provide a habit for a range of minibeasts. From insects to worms and woodlice, these all help the decaying process and provide a food source for hedgehogs and other animals.
Banish pests and encourage beneficial insects
Pests such as slugs, aphids and larvae may have been sheltering in the crowns or flip side of plants during the winter. Therefore, before putting in any new plants, it is important to remove these pests and encourage insects that will be beneficial to your gardens, such as bees and butterflies.
Other than pesticides, there are alternative, less harmful ways to control them, such as creating barriers or companion planting. For example, plant other plants that attract nearby insects (such as ) nearby, or use copper piping to deter slugs from the space.
Get planting!
Once your garden is prepped, it’s time to start planting! Flowers are a brilliant way to make your garden stand out, and with an array of options available, it’s one of the best ways to give your home curb appeal.
Planting seasonal flowers and shrubs also helps the wildlife in your garden flourish, as they are compatible with one another, encouraging native biodiversity. For spring, choose plants such as tulips and daffodils to add a pop of colour or shrubs such as azaleas and lilacs, which will add fragrance to the spring air.
Spring also presents the perfect time to sow some homegrown produce. Purple sprouting broccoli, cucumber and rhubarb are just a few of the seasonal delights to plant and enjoy. You can plant these crops directly in the soil, underneath a row cover, or in containers. For a continuous harvest, make sure to plant several varieties at once.
Nima Ghasri, Director at Good Move, says, “As the nights begin to get lighter, it gives homeowners that little bit of extra time to work on their gardens ready for spring. Maintaining your garden can really help your property stand out in a crowded market – especially since the outside of your property is a buyer’s first impression.
“We hope our expert tips will help homeowners get their gardens spring-ready and help give serious curb appeal to their property!”
For more gardening tips, visit https://goodmove.co.uk/blog/gardening-tips-and-trends-designing-your-perfect-oasis-good-move/.
¹Google search data correct as of 17.03.22.
Read more gardening guides and features in our lifestyle section here.
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