As February begins, darkness descends a little later and the dew on the grass smells sweet, as spring is on the horizon. After neglecting it over the winter months, you start to think about venturing into the garden and preparing it for the spring and summer ahead. Now is actually a good time to perform a good old-fashioned spring clean, plant some seeds and start to prepare your garden for many happy days in the upcoming months.

A Thorough Spring Clean

Winter will have left you with a rather big clean up job on your hands as dead leaves and branches are strewn across your turf. One of the first jobs is to rake the lawn and compost the debris. You may notice bare or damaged patches on your lawn, now is a good time to re-seed them for a full, luscious lawn in the summer. Make sure you keep the grass well watered until the patches begin to germinate.

Lawn edges will start to grow ferociously in early spring, make sure you trim them regularly to keep them maintained. Weeds will also start to grow rapidly around this time so weeding regularly, although it’s somewhat of a tedious task, can help you to keep on top of even the keenest of weeds and save you a big job in the future. If you have any topiary or shrubs, make sure you shape them now to get rid of any dead, browning leaves and then regularly trim them to keep them in optimum condition.

When Planting

Check the condition of your soil before hastily planting seeds; it should crumble easily through your fingers like breadcrumbs. If it sticks together in clumps then the soil’s not ready and you should avoid planting seeds until it dries out some more.

Be aware of what plants take to early spring planting. Now is a good time to grow your own greens as spinach, peas, lettuce and leeks are popular early spring crops. Broccoli, cabbage and onions can also be planted in early spring although perhaps a little later than the other four.

February can still be an incredibly chilly month, and although planting is possible you will have to take extra care of your seedlings to prevent them from perishing. Cover them overnight with an overturned bucket or plant pot to protect them from the harsh frosts.

Decorating and Accessorizing

After putting all the time and effort in to maintaining your garden, you’ll want to spend time relaxing in it, admiring your handiwork and showing if off to others. Entertaining in the summer can be very pleasant, whether you’re hosting a garden party, barbeque or just having a few friends round for dinner – conversing in the garden seems to create more excitement than sitting around the television.

Now’s the perfect time to start thinking about garden furniture – many stores have spring discounts or release new lines ready for the summer ahead. A hanging chair can add a new dynamic to the garden, while providing you with a comfortable seat for some alone time. You can read a book or admire your beautiful garden, plus a hanging chair can be a great visual accessory as it creates diverse levels and catches the eye.

Animal ornaments are always a popular accessory for the garden as they can add a touch of personality to the greenery whilst adhering to the theme of nature. Alternatively, you could allow your real pet into the garden but be sure to train them that urinating on the lawn is forbidden as this can result in patches of your grass dying.

This guest post was written by Stephanie Staszko @StephStaz who enjoys sitting in the garden in the summertime with an ice cold ginger beer!