The Complete Spring Garden Preparation Guide for UK Gardens

As the days grow longer and temperatures begin to climb, your garden stirs back to life. Spring is the most exciting — and the most critical — time in the UK gardening calendar. The work you put in now sets the tone for the entire growing season ahead.

After more than 15 years designing and maintaining gardens across Surrey, London, and the Home Counties, we've distilled our spring preparation process into a clear, actionable guide. Whether you manage a compact urban courtyard or a sprawling country estate, these steps will help your garden flourish.

1. Assess Winter Damage

Before you plant a single bulb, take a slow walk around your garden. Look for frost-damaged perennials, waterlogged beds, broken trellis, and compacted paths. Record what needs attention — this is your spring punch list.

• Check for split or heaved pots from frost cycles
• Inspect fences, timber borders, and raised beds for rot
• Note areas with standing water — these may need drainage work
• Prune dead or damaged branches from trees and shrubs

2. Prepare Your Soil

Healthy soil is the foundation of a healthy garden. In early spring, once the ground has thawed and dried enough to work without clumping, fork over beds to break up compaction. Add a generous layer of well-rotted compost or farmyard manure.

For clay-heavy soils common in Surrey and South-East England, incorporating horticultural grit improves drainage dramatically. A pH test kit from your local garden centre will tell you whether any beds need lime (to reduce acidity) or sulphur (to lower alkalinity).

3. Revive Your Lawn

Your lawn will likely look worse for wear after winter. Start by raking out dead moss and thatch with a spring-tine rake. If moss is severe, apply a moss killer and wait two weeks before scarifying.

Overseed bare patches with a quality grass seed blend suited to your garden's conditions. For shady areas, look for shade-tolerant mixes. After seeding, keep the area moist (but not waterlogged) until germination, usually 10–14 days.

4. Check Your Irrigation System

If you have an automated irrigation system, spring is the time for a thorough inspection. Turn the system on zone by zone and check for:

• Cracked or frozen pipes and joints
• Misaligned sprinkler heads
• Blocked drip emitters
• Controller programming — adjust schedules for spring watering needs

If you don't have an irrigation system, spring is the ideal time to install one. Newly planted beds, freshly seeded lawns, and establishing shrubs all benefit enormously from consistent, automated watering.

5. Plan Your Planting

Spring planting in the UK follows a rough calendar:

6. Maintain & Monitor

Once everything is planted and growing, consistent maintenance is key. Stay on top of weeding — young weeds are far easier to remove than established ones. Mulch beds with 5–8cm of bark or compost to suppress weeds and retain moisture.

Keep a garden journal noting what you planted, when it flowered, and any pest or disease issues. This record becomes invaluable for planning future seasons.