Spring Gardening: How to Revive Your Outdoor Space

April 04, 2025

Now it’s officially spring. The days are growing longer, and the winter chill is beginning to fade. This is the ultimate cue for gardeners to prepare their outdoor spaces for spring. Whether you’re an avid gardener or this is your first growing season, getting your garden ready now will set you up for a season of healthy plants, lush greenery, and colourful blooming flowers. From preparing your soil to monitoring the unpredictable spring weather, here are some top tips to ensure a flourishing garden this spring.

Start with a spring clean 🌼:

Before thinking about planting, make sure you clear away any winter debris, including fallen leaves, dead plants, and weeds that have grown throughout the winter season. Doing this helps prevent pests and diseases and makes room for new plant growth, whilst also making your garden look beautiful once again, ready for days outside in the garden spending time with friends and family.

Check your soil 🌱:

Monitoring the health of your soil is crucial as it reveals whether your soil is suffering from nutrient deficiencies or whether the pH levels are off and also ensures that your soil isn’t compacted when you begin planting. Compacted soil can cause restricted root growth, making it difficult for the roots to access nutrients and water sources whilst also causing reduced aeration of the soil, hindering the plant's ability to photosynthesise. Therefore, it’s important to test your soil to ensure it possesses the proper nutrients. Loosen your winter soil with a garden fork and enrich it with compost before planting. You can also use a Soil Thermometer to help determine if the ground is warm enough for planting. A general rule to aim for is 18 to 24 degrees for most plants.

Plan and begin planting 🌿:

The Exciting part… choosing what to PLANT! Ensure you choose herbs, vegetables, or flowers that are renowned for thriving during the spring season. Here are a few options for you to consider:

The best Herbs to plant in spring include:

· Basil

· Mint

· Thyme

· Rosemary

· Cilantro

· Chives

· Dill

· Lemon Balm

· Lavender

· Parsley

Vegetables to plant in spring include:

· Aubergine

· Beetroot

· Broad beans

· Cauliflower

· Courgette

· Cucumber

· Peppers

· Squash

· Tomatoes

Popular Flowers to plant in spring include:

· Daffodils

· Sunflowers

· Primroses

· Tulips

· Crocuses

· Pansies

· Iris

· Bluebells

· Lily of the Valley

· Forsythias

· Snowdrop

Keep an eye on the weather 🌦️:

Spring weather in the UK can be unpredictable, with late frosts still creeping in, sudden downpours, and rising temperatures. It’s important to stay ahead of the everchanging season to make sure your growing garden continues to thrive, whatever the weather. Various weather monitoring systems can help you track your local environmental conditions, such as a Wireless Weather Station, which simultaneously tracks local temperature, humidity levels, air pressure, and wind speed from the comfort of your home. A convenient all-rounder for accurate weather monitoring.

Tracking rainfall is also important when trying to maintain a vibrant and healthy outdoor space, tracking rainfall helps gardeners to make informed decisions about whether or not their crops, flowers, or even lawn requires watering. Overwatering is a common mistake that many make, usually “just to be safe.” However, overwatering can cause waterlogged soil, causing plants to essentially drown as they cannot absorb the oxygen required to survive; plant roots are also at risk of developing root rot, without oxygen roots can become vulnerable to disease and develop fungal/bacterial infections, killing the roots system. Placing a Rain Gauge in your garden allows you to track annual rainfall in your exact location, a simple and convenient method to monitor rainfall.

Although spring in the UK can be unpredictable, it is also the season for renewal. However, with the right preparation and gardening knowledge, your garden will burst to life!

FAQs:

What’s the best way to plan my spring garden?

Sketch out a planting plan based on sun exposure and soil type.
Choose a mix of flowers, vegetables, and wildlife-friendly plants.
Keep track of planting dates and weather conditions to optimise growth.

How can I prepare my soil for spring planting?

To ensure healthy plant growth, follow these steps:

Clear weeds and debris left from winter.
Loosen the soil using a fork or tiller.
Add organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure.
Check soil moisture to avoid overwatering early in the season.

How often should I water my garden in spring?

UK spring weather can be unpredictable, so it’s best to:

Water when the soil feels dry, rather than on a set schedule.
Monitor rainfall levels—most gardens need 1-2 inches of water per week.
Water early in the morning to reduce evaporation and prevent fungal diseases.

What’s the easiest fruit to grow in the UK in spring?