When winter comes to an end and the days start to get longer, it’s time to come out of your winter cocoon and prepare your garden to welcome spring. To do this, a few simple steps can be followed to ensure a successful emergence of your garden from winter. Discover our tips and tricks to bring your outdoor area back to life and fully enjoy the beautiful days ahead.
Cleaning and tidying up the garden
First of all, it is essential to carry out a thorough cleaning of your garden after the winter months. Indeed, snow, frost, and bad weather have left their marks on your outdoors and it is necessary to freshen it up before starting the planting and landscaping work. Here are some important tasks to carry out:
- Leaf collection: they can suffocate the grass and promote certain diseases if left in place for too long.
- Cleaning of paths and terraces: use a hard-bristled broom or a water jet to remove dirt, moss, and other residues accumulated during the winter.
- Weeding of flower beds and borders: remove weeds and other undesirable plants to make room for new shoots.
- Storage of gardening tools and outdoor furniture: check the condition of your equipment and store it in a garden shed or suitable location to prevent further damage.
Tree, shrub and hedge trimming
It is also important to trim your trees, shrubs, and hedges to promote good growth in the spring and remove all dead, diseased or damaged branches. Here are some tips to succeed in this step:
- Pruning of fruit trees: It is preferable to lightly prune fruit trees at the beginning of spring to encourage fruiting. This technique helps limit the risk of diseases and improve the quality of the fruits.
- Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs: prune shrubs that flower in the summer to stimulate the production of new shoots and flowers. Be careful, however, to properly respect the flowering cycle of each species.
- Hedge size: cut the branches exceeding the desired size to maintain a harmonious and dense shape for your hedge. However, be careful not to prune too severely to avoid damaging young shoots.
Soil Preparation and Sowing
To achieve a flowered and productive garden in the spring, it is crucial to properly prepare the soil and proceed with sowing work at the end of winter. A healthy and well amended soil will favor the growth of plants and limit the development of diseases and pests. Follow these few steps to succeed in this preparation:
- Improvement of soil structure: aerate the soil by incorporating compost, organic matter or natural fertilizers to promote biological life and improve the fertility of the substrate. This operation can be carried out using a broadfork or a spading fork.
- Seed sowing work: Respect the recommended sowing periods for each species to increase your chance of germination. Don’t hesitate to turn to plants from your local nursery or to exchange seeds with your neighbors to promote plant diversity in your garden.
- Mulching of flower beds: cover your flower beds and borders with plant mulch (dead leaves, straw, chips) to retain moisture, protect the roots from fragments and promote their growth.
Installation of necessary protections
Even if temperatures are beginning to get milder, there is a chance that late frosts may threaten the health of your plants in the spring. To avoid damage caused by the cold, consider:
- Protect sensitive plants : wrap their base and branches with a winter veil or bubble plastic to create a thermal barrier and limit the risks of frost.
- Install shelters for birds: these are particularly vulnerable during the changing of seasons and will greatly benefit from the presence of shelters to protect and feed themselves safely.
- Regularly check the weather forecastsand do not hesitate to bring in young plants or flower boxes if low temperatures are announced.
Your garden’s winter exit should not be rushed. Take the time to carry out each step with care and precision to guarantee a beautiful bloom in the spring. The result will be worth your efforts and provide you with a green, colorful, and welcoming exterior throughout this new season. Use this opportunity to share these gardening moments with your loved ones and introduce the youngest to the joys of tilling the earth!