Winter to Spring: Preparing Your Garden for Its Biggest Growth Season
As the chill begins to ease, gardeners everywhere start to look ahead to spring. While it may still feel like the depths of winter, now is the perfect month to prepare your garden for the burst of life that comes with warmer weather. A little groundwork now means you’ll enjoy a healthier, more vibrant outdoor space in the months ahead.
Refresh your soil
Healthy soil is the foundation of every thriving garden. After a long, wet winter, soils can become compacted and depleted of nutrients. Loosening the top layer with a garden fork and working in organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure helps restore balance and structure. For new planting areas, incorporating a premium soil blend ensures good drainage and sets the stage for vigorous root growth.
It’s also a good time to check soil pH, especially in garden beds that support flowering plants or edibles. Slight adjustments now, whether by adding lime to raise pH or sulphur to lower it, can make a noticeable difference once spring planting begins.
Prune for new growth
Late winter is the ideal time to prune many deciduous trees and shrubs before they burst into leaf. Removing dead, damaged or crossing branches improves plant health and appearance, while encouraging strong new shoots in the growing season.
Fruit trees in particular benefit from a winter prune to maximise airflow and light penetration through the canopy, which improves fruit quality later on. Roses also respond well to a firm cutback now, producing vigorous spring growth and abundant blooms. For hedges and structural shrubs, tidying their shape before spring ensures they grow evenly and neatly as the season progresses.
Get on top of weeds and lawns
Weeds love the moisture of winter and can quickly take hold. Clearing them now saves time and prevents them from seeding as spring approaches. Mulching garden beds after weeding is a simple way to suppress new growth and retain soil moisture heading into the warmer months.
Lawns also deserve attention in late winter. Heavy rains can compact the soil, so aerating with a garden fork helps oxygen and nutrients reach the roots. Applying a slow-release fertiliser and a light top-dressing will give the lawn a nutrient boost, helping it bounce back with lush, even growth. If bare patches remain, sowing fresh seed before the weather warms ensures a thicker, more resilient lawn in spring.
Plan your planting
Spring is the busiest time of year in the garden, and the most exciting. Planning ahead in August means you’re ready to act when conditions are right. Start by considering how you want your outdoor space to look and feel — whether that’s colourful borders, structural evergreens, or a mix of natives and Mediterranean plants for year-round texture.
Think about layering plants for interest: tall feature trees or shrubs at the back, mid-sized perennials for structure, and groundcovers to tie it all together. Consider flowering times too, so that your garden offers a rolling display from early spring right through summer.
If you’ve been dreaming of bigger changes — such as building new garden beds, adding paving, or installing a pergola — winter is the perfect season to finalise your design. By the time spring arrives, you’ll be ready to plant into freshly prepared spaces and watch them come to life.
Don’t forget wildlife
As you prepare for spring, it’s worth thinking beyond plants and lawns. Native birds, bees, and butterflies all play a role in a healthy garden ecosystem. Planting nectar-rich flowers, leaving a shallow water source, or adding habitat-friendly shrubs can encourage more life into your space. By planning for wildlife now, you’ll enjoy a buzzing, vibrant garden through the warmer months.