As the dry winter breaks and the warmer weather returns, your garden is ready to wake up. These essential spring tasks will set the foundation for a lush, resilient landscape heading into the rainy summer season.
Winter depletes soil nutrients. Top-dress your beds with a generous layer of rich compost and organic slow-release fertilizer to give waking roots the energy they need for the first growth spurt.
Prune away any frost-damaged branches, dead wood, and old winter growth. This clears the way for new shoots and improves air circulation, which helps prevent spring fungal infections.
Early spring is the perfect time to plant summer-flowering bulbs like Agapanthus, Amaryllis, and Gladiolus. Get them in the ground now before the intense mid-summer heat arrives.
Give your lawn its first low cut of the season to remove dead winter thatch. Aerate compacted areas with a garden fork and apply a specialized spring lawn dressing to encourage thick, green runners.
Before the spring heat sets in, flush your irrigation lines, clean out sprinkler nozzles, and check for leaks that may have developed over the dry winter months.
Apply a fresh 2-inch layer of bark chips or organic mulch across your bare soil. This suppresses early spring weeds and locks in moisture before the sun gets too harsh.