When it comes to getting your garden ready for spring, it is perfect to think about going green. Spring is a great time to help the environment and to also have a great garden to enjoy. Especially if you have children, the use of organic products to help your garden to thrive is an excellent idea. You also want to be able to use products that are pet-friendly.
Aerating your lawn
One of the best ways to have a great garden is to aerate your lawn. Aerating your lawn helps to loosen the soil. By loosening the soil you allow air, water and nutrients to get to the roots. Strong roots make strong grass.
When the soil becomes loosened it is a friendly environment for earthworms to grow. Earthworms are very good for both grass and for the soil. They eat the grass that gets cut and bring it deep into the soil. They eat it and then of course as with any life form that eats they leave behind organic material that helps to nourish the soil.
Starting a compost heap
Starting a compost heap is a very green thing to so in your garden. Not only does it give you a place to dispose of your fruit and vegetable peelings and other organic waste but also the grass and bush clippings. You will then have a great organic mulch and fertiliser to help to grow your plants and your lawn.
If you have a fence around your garden, it may be time to re-paint. When you are going green you will want to choose a paint that is environmentally friendly. By using sustainable wood for your fencing, decking and garden furniture you are helping to keep things green.
A haven for birds
One of the most amazing things you can do in the spring is to make your garden a friendly haven for birds. There are many bushes that are especially attractive to birds. Birds such as hummingbirds need to have flowers to attract them and then they need a perch. They love colourful flowers. If you plant the bushes that they want and need, they will come.
Having a green garden requires a few simple steps but the rewards will last for years. You will also have a place that your family and pets can enjoy safely and that is a welcome place for birds. Spring is the time of year when you do all the preparation that will give you a year of beauty and functionality.
I do little and often, pull up the weeds and sow the seeds ready for the summer ahead.
My top tip is get in there early with the weeding before they get a chance to spread.
Have your garden tools serviced and stock up on compost, pots, netting, etc if you are planning on growing your own.
DO NOT GIVE UP ON IT ITS WORTH IT IN THE END
Make an early start. As soon as the weather permits, get out there and tidy up and prepare for planting out etc. If time or the weather overtake you, you will always be struggling to get on top of the work.
Listen to some music or audiobook when weeding. Makes it less tiresome and you can entertain yourself at the same time.
It means lots of hard work,mainly weeding and digging.
Install water butts and start collecting rainwater.
Leave a messy space for the animals to use
Do a little bit of weeding whenever you can.
Little and often – don’t tackle it all on the one day x
I like to surround shrubs and plants with layers of mulch. It helps to preserve water and adds nutrients to the soil, making healthy plants.
Make sure your soil is tip top
Order summer-flowering bulbs and seeds and tidy up flower beds and borders.
Don’t let the slugs get you down. Use beer traps!
we have a compost bin(free from the council) to use and then prepare the veggie plot with the compost made ready for this year’s plants x
My tip is to tackle it a bit at a time. We have a large garden and it’s hard to keep on top of it all, so we break down bits and bobs to do each weekend.
Take a day off work and crack on with it.
Having water butt’s! I live the fact I don’t have to use the tap! And to do little bits instead of leaving it!
Little and Often
I’ll have to say “Get your husband to do it!” He’s a passionate gardener and I am hopeless at it.
Don’t get too enthusiastic too early and plant out tender plants – there is still the possibility of frosty nights.
Check for slugs ! They are rife due to our mild winter !
Don’t plant out til all frost has gone
start early and do little and often
do bits as and when you can, do not make it a chore but a relaxing task
Keep weeding as it stops it from being a real chore
Look where gets the most light so then you can plan where would be best to put in new plants/ bulbs / hanging baskets. Not all plants will like bright sunlight all day where as others will thrive.
Get the children involved! Mine loves digging around in the dirt and helping to weed and plant.
Do a little bit each day as it all adds up,
just get on with it a little bit at a time
Weed as and when required, but don’t forget to take the time to sit and enjoy your garden as it grows and matures. X
I let my OH do the gardening as he is the expert 🙂
Plenty of hard work needed to prepare beds for planting and shrub pruning and shaping
Spend a few days on it to get it looking great. The more time you spend early in the season the less hassle it becomes in the warmer weather. Getting to the weeds before they seed and spread.
Never procrastinate!!!! Keep up with the weeding on a daily basis and make a list of jobs that need doing as you go.
Pulling weeds out as soon as you see them. Keeping on top of the weeding means less work in the long run.
i always tty to keep on top of things b doing a little here and there to make sure it doesnt get too overgrown and messy
start earlier, I tend to get really hot and distracted if I start in the afternoon
keep on top of the weeding through out the year
Don’t let it get out of control, do a little bit every day.
thick mulch when you have weeded a bed , stopps more weeds and keeps moisture in and adds bulk to the soil , and looks good
Mulch, mulch and more mulch
Mowing every fortnight to really green up the grass and water with a can not a hose – as it can drown the grass aparently
A bit of grass cutting & weeding!
Do a little bit here and there throughout late summer, early winter to prepare for Spring.