Start Your Garden Strong: 15 Essential Tips for a Lush Spring and Summer!

The chilly, damp season has passed. Daffodils are emerging; tulips are pushing through; the days are bright and long, surpassing the length of the nights. This change brings a renewed interest in outdoor spaces: the garden. This might excite you, imagining digging your hands into the soil after a day’s work or a meal. Or it might bring a hint of anxiety—after all, the garden has been neglected all winter, and there seems to be an overwhelming amount to do.

Yet, our gardens are spaces meant for enjoyment and sharing with the natural world around us. If you envision yourself spending the summer basking in your garden, now is the perfect time to organize: plant, cultivate, and resist the urge to mow just yet.

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Preparing Your Garden for Spring and Summer

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Enhance Pots with Summer Bulbs

Abyssinian gladiolus

Once your container plants are thriving, take a moment to enjoy them before planning their successors. Currently, there are great discounts on dahlias, but don’t overlook the gladiolus (I recommend Acidanthera murielae) or majestic eremurus.

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…And Let Your Spring Bulbs Be

“Resist the urge to cut back the foliage of spring bulbs after they bloom,” advises Pollyanna Wilkinson, garden designer and author of How to Design a Garden. “It’s crucial to allow the leaves to remain so the bulbs can photosynthesize and store energy for the following year.” If unsure, wait until the foliage turns yellow, which makes it easy to remove.

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Invest in Quality Garden Furniture

Habitat Indu two-seater bench

With the weather warming up, it’s becoming ideal for enjoying a morning coffee outdoors. However, harsh winters can take a toll on garden furniture. At a minimum, a thorough cleaning with soapy water and a stiff brush should suffice to remove accumulated dirt—this is especially true for plastic and hardwood pieces. Softwood pieces might need a fresh coat of stain.

If you’re considering new furniture, now is the time to buy, especially before the bank holiday sales in May. Habitat offers an extensive range of affordable options, like a vibrant red sofa that stands out against green foliage.

For more, see our guide on the best garden furniture

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Begin Sowing

Seedling labels, pack of 24

Nasturtium ‘Gleam Salmon’ seeds

Fine rose watering can attachment

For those who love watching new life sprout from tiny seeds, sowing can be one of the most rewarding gardening activities. Setting up properly with seed trays, labels, and a fine rose for your watering can will increase your chances of success. Be cautious with sowing; avoid using the entire seed packet unless you’re ready to care for numerous seedlings until the risk of frost has passed.

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Participate in a Seed Swap

I enjoy organizing my seeds at this time of year, deciding what to plant as the soil warms. However, there are certain seeds I won’t sow, like large brassicas or anything with a deep purple hue (it’s just not my color). Seed swaps are a fantastic way to exchange what you don’t need for something new and exciting. These events are happening in community gardens nationwide, so find one nearby, trade in your unused seeds, and bring home something different.

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Cultivate Mindfulness

To Stand and Stare book

“Consider how busy you really want to be in your garden this year,” suggests Andrew Timothy O’Brien, author of To Stand & Stare. If you’re up for managing hundreds of seedlings, that’s great, he says, but maybe you’d prefer to plant a small pot with your favorite flower and spend the rest of your time observing butterflies or reading a good book. His book comes highly recommended.

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Skip the Lawn Mowing

This might be controversial, but I’ve embraced the #NoMowMay movement for years. The trend highlights the aesthetic and ecological benefits of letting your lawn grow wild in the spring. Don’t stop there, though. I usually let my grass grow until the peak of summer. If that seems too untamed for your taste, consider mowing paths or leaving specific sections long for a more managed appearance.

For more, check out our guide on creating a more eco-friendly lawn

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Create New Borders

Half moon edging tool

There’s a unique satisfaction in cutting new garden borders, and now is an excellent time to do it before the growing season kicks in and new plants arrive. You might find it helpful to use some graph paper for planning, but you can also get a feel for it using stakes, string, and a good look at your garden’s layout. Aim for wide beds—they always need more space than you initially think. A solid meter or more in width will create stunning herbaceous borders.

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Establish a Cutting Garden

Dahlia mix

Sweet pea collection

Cornflower ‘Black Ball’

“Avoid stripping your garden borders to decorate your indoor spaces,” warns Hazel Gardiner, a floral designer and broadcaster. She advocates for planting with the intention to cut, especially if you have the space. “Set aside a small area for a cutting garden filled with productive annuals like cosmos, cornflowers, and sweet peas. This approach lets you harvest more generously, promotes branching, and keeps your main garden lush.” For those with limited space, she suggests incorporating striking dahlias into existing borders.

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Divide and Multiply

Hand fork

Before you head to the garden center, consider what you can propagate from your own garden, advises Charlie Chase, a garden designer. “Cut back any later-blooming perennials you are fond of (like hardy geraniums, nepeta, Alchemilla mollis), lift them, and divide. This not only saves money but also helps to create a more cohesive look in your garden—you’ll end up with double the plants you love.”

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Conduct a Wildlife Survey

Nicotiana

Star jasmine

If you’re looking to enhance your garden’s ecosystem, identifying existing wildlife is a great starting point, says Lottie Delamain, a garden designer and author of Gardens That Can Save the World. “Figure out who’s already visiting your garden and plan your plantings accordingly,” she suggests. “Think in terms of food chains: if you want owls, you need moths, and moths are attracted to night-scented plants like nicotiana and jasmine.”

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Refresh What You Already Have

Outdoor cushion

If the thought of intensive gardening tasks like sowing seeds or visiting garden centers feels daunting, start by enhancing what you already own. A fresh coat of paint on some old pots or furniture, a thorough sweep of the patio, or simply adding a vibrant tablecloth or new cushions to your bench or chairs can make your outdoor space more inviting and reignite your gardening enthusiasm.

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Maintain Your Gardening Tools

Kuniyoshi rust eraser

Sharpening stone

Keeping your gardening tools sharp and clean is essential not just for professionals, but for anyone who gardens. Clean, sharp tools make gardening tasks easier and help prevent the spread of plant diseases. Don’t be intimidated: a quality sharpening stone and some patience can restore your tools’ edges. A rust eraser and a bit of water can clean away any accumulated dirt, leaving your tools ready for efficient use.

For more, see our guide on how to make your garden tools last longer

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Tidy Your Shed

Hyllis shelving unit

Plastic storage box

If opening your shed feels like navigating through a cluttered maze of chairs, tools, toys, and miscellaneous garden gear, it’s time for a clean-up. Installing proper shelving can help keep everything organized. If you’re particularly motivated, large plastic storage boxes can protect items from dust, weather, and pests (especially important for storing bird food) while keeping everything else neatly contained.

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Enjoy the Early Morning Garden

“Just enjoy it,” advises garden designer Alexandra Noble. She enjoys starting her day among the early blooms, wrapped in a fleece or two, savoring a morning coffee. If you’re bound for a long day at your desk, why not treat yourself to 15 minutes of tranquility in the morning sunlight?

For more:

The best pressure washers for cleaning garden furniture and patios

The best secateurs to save you time and effort when pruning

Gardening pros on the tools they can’t live without

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Alice Vincent is a writer, author and gardener