As winter's grip loosens and the first golden rays stretch languidly across the garden, the landscape stirs. The air is laced with the promise of spring—fragrant with the faintest whisper of damp earth and new growth. Daffodils begin to unfurl their buttery petals; birdsong swells in the hedgerows, and soon, the garden will be awash with color and life. This is the moment when nature's canvas comes alive, inspiring us to don our wellies, grasp our secateurs, and step into the age-old ritual of spring gardening—a tradition as enduring as the English countryside.
With a few well-timed tasks, your garden can awaken in all its bucolic splendor. This season of preparation is not about haste but about patience and precision, setting the stage for the opulent floral displays and lush green havens that define the best English gardens. Here are ten garden jobs to take care of now, followed by a few things best left untouched—at least for the moment.
1. Prune Roses & Train Climbers
There is scarcely a sight more quintessentially English than roses tumbling over an aged brick wall or clambering up a weathered trellis. Now is the time to shape them for their grand performance. If you have yet to prune, be bold—roses are resilient. Remove deadwood, crossing branches, and anything spindly or weak. For mature plants, cut back by a third or even a half; trim to around 18 inches for young specimens to encourage robust growth. Climbing roses should be trained now, their canes carefully secured in graceful arcs to coax an abundance of blooms later in the season.
Tip: If your ground is still workable, bare-root roses can also be planted. Planting in early spring will help the roots to establish before the growing season begins. For the rest of us who are still buried in snow, I recommend pre-ordering what you want before it sells out. The garden centers will ship your roses at the right time for growing.
2. Trim Hedges Before New Growth Appears
Centuries of topiary artistry have sculpted England's finest parterres, and while your hedges may not frame a grand estate, they deserve the same care. A well-timed trim before new growth emerges ensures a dense, shapely form. Avoid overzealous clipping if frost still lingers, and hold off on fertilizing until all danger of frost has passed.
3. Prune Trees and large shrubs
The art of pruning is part science, part poetry—each cut shaping the tree's future silhouette. Fruit trees, in particular, benefit from an early spring trim to encourage air circulation and an abundant harvest. If done now, before buds break, your orchard will reward you with healthier growth and, in time, baskets brimming with sun-warmed fruit.
Tip: Save a few of the flowering branches to force indoors.
4. Apply Pre-Emergent to Lawns
An English lawn, emerald green and perfectly clipped, does not maintain itself by chance. One of the secrets lies in preventing unwanted weeds before they even emerge. Applying a pre-emergent herbicide now will keep the lawn pristine, ensuring that come summer, it is an unbroken expanse of verdant turf, a testament to your diligent care and perfect for garden parties and afternoon teas.
5. Start Seeds Indoors or Direct Sow Cold-Stratified Seeds
Certain plants—stalwart larkspur, whimsical sweet peas, and delicate poppies—thrive when sown directly into the cold earth. Others, such as tender vegetables and cottage garden favorites, benefit from an early start indoors. Read seed packets carefully and select varieties that can withstand the lingering chill. With the right timing, your seedlings will be ready to grace the borders in their due season.
6. Refresh Gravel Paths & Remove Weeds
A proper gravel path—whether leading through a cottage garden or encircling a clipped yew topiary—needs occasional attention. Winter's rain and wind often scatter stones and encourage weeds to take hold. Now is the time to rake, replenish, and restore order before nature reclaims too much ground.
7. Edge Garden Beds
Nothing gives a garden an air of considered beauty quite like crisp, well-defined borders. If the ground is thawed enough, use a spade to cut neat edges along beds and borders. This seemingly small task makes a difference, creating a polished, intentional look before plants begin their springtime flourish.
8. Fill Bird Feeders for Nesting Birds
As migrating birds return from their winter retreats, they will be grateful for a helping hand. A well-stocked feeder—filled with black oil sunflower seeds, suet, and mealworms—offers much-needed sustenance for nesting birds, ensuring their cheerful songs will be a constant companion in the coming months.
9. Fertilize Evergreens & Deciduous Trees
With the promise of new growth comes the need for nourishment. If your evergreens are beginning to show signs of awakening, now is the moment to feed them. Deciduous trees should be fertilized as soon as they leaf out, giving them the strength to unfold their canopies in full, majestic splendor.
10. Plant Hardy Vegetables
For those who long to see something edible take root, hardy vegetables—lettuce, peas, radishes, and early potatoes—can be planted now. These stoic little growers thrive in the cool air and are eager to take their place in the kitchen garden, where soon they will offer the first taste of spring.
5 Things NOT to Do in Early Spring
- Do Not Prune Hydrangeas (Yet!) – Many hydrangeas bloom on last year's wood. Pruning too soon may strip away this season's flowers.
- Do Not Seed Lawns Just Yet. Grass seeds need warmth to germinate. Wait until temperatures are consistently mild.
- Do Not Fertilize Perennials Prematurely – These plants must wake naturally before being fed; too much and too soon may encourage weak growth.
- Do Not Plant Greenhouse-Grown Plants Outdoors Yet – Those bright garden center finds are tempting but not yet hardened to the elements.
- Do Not Start Tender Seeds Too Early – Leggy, overgrown seedlings will struggle when finally moved outdoors. Timing is everything.
Conclusion
By tending to your garden with a sense of tradition, patience, and respect for the rhythms of nature, you are carrying on the legacy of centuries of English gardening. So, breathe in the crisp air, feel the soil beneath your fingertips, and take joy in these early stirrings of the season. With careful tending now, your garden will soon be awash in the dazzling splendor of spring.
Elizabeth Evans
As the founder of Lineage Design Co., I curate English and French Country interiors that celebrate history, tradition, and local craftsmanship. With a background in art and garden design, I specialize in 18th and 19th-century 'nature inspired' antiques. My husband and I are restoring a French-inspired cottage and garden in Salt Lake City, where we live with our two pointers, a Maine Coon, and a small flock of chickens.
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