Why Spring Preparation Sets the Tone for Your Whole Garden Year
What you do in March and April has an outsized impact on how your garden performs all the way through to autumn. This is the time to prepare soil, get seeds started, tackle weeds before they establish, and give existing plants the attention they need after winter. A focused effort in spring pays dividends for months.
March Garden Tasks
Beds and Borders
- Cut back any ornamental grasses and perennials left standing over winter for structure and wildlife shelter — now is the time before new growth begins.
- Apply a generous mulch of well-rotted compost or manure around established perennials and shrubs. This feeds the soil and helps suppress early weed germination.
- Begin weeding as soon as the ground is workable. Catching weeds in early spring — before they set seed — is far more effective than dealing with them later.
- Divide congested clumps of perennials such as hostas, geraniums, and asters. Replant healthy outer sections and compost the old woody centre.
Sowing and Planting
- Sow hardy annuals (cornflowers, nigella, larkspur) directly into prepared soil in mild areas, or under cover in colder regions.
- Start tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, and celery indoors on a heated propagator — these need a long growing season.
- Chit seed potatoes by standing them rose-end up in egg boxes in a cool, light, frost-free place.
- Plant onion sets and shallots in prepared vegetable beds once the soil is no longer frozen.
Lawn Care
- Give the lawn its first mow of the year on a high setting (no lower than 4cm) once grass begins actively growing.
- Repair bare patches by scarifying lightly and re-seeding.
- Re-cut any lawn edges that have become ragged over winter.
April Garden Tasks
Beds and Borders
- Plant out hardy perennials and shrubs bought from garden centres — the soil is warming and plants establish readily in April.
- Stake tall perennials such as delphiniums and peonies early, before they need it. It's much easier than trying to stake a flopped plant.
- Continue weeding — now with real urgency as growth accelerates across the garden.
Sowing and Planting
- Sow courgettes, squash, and cucumber indoors in individual pots. They grow quickly and will be ready to harden off and plant out after the last frost.
- Direct-sow beetroot, carrots, chard, lettuce, radishes, and spring onions in the vegetable garden.
- Plant out broad beans and peas sown under cover in February or March.
- Harden off any plants started indoors by placing them outside in a sheltered spot during the day and bringing them in at night.
Pests and Problems
- Watch for slug and snail damage — young seedlings and hostas are particularly vulnerable. Apply organic slug pellets or set up beer traps.
- Check roses for the first signs of aphids and remove by hand or with a jet of water.
- Look out for vine weevil grubs in pots — inspect root balls of plants showing sudden wilting.
Quick Reference: Spring Sowing Calendar
| Plant | Sow Indoors | Sow Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | March–April | Not suitable |
| Courgettes | April | May–June |
| Carrots | Not recommended | March–July |
| Lettuce | March–April | March–August |
| Sunflowers | April | April–May |
Don't Forget...
Spring is also the time to service your garden equipment, clean pots and seed trays with a diluted disinfectant solution, and replenish spent compost in containers before the busy planting season begins. A little organisation now saves significant time and frustration later in the year.