Late Winter Jobs for a Thriving Spring Garden
Jobs for a Thriving Spring Garden
Proper planning and preparation in late winter and early spring are key to a healthy, thriving garden as the warmer months approach. Pruning and dividing plants encourage fresh growth, while planting early crops and protecting blossoms help ensure a successful harvest.
Sowing seeds in the greenhouse gives tender plants a valuable head start, and regular care keeps houseplants looking their best all year round. At the same time, improving soil health and maintaining tools lays the groundwork for strong, resilient plants throughout the season.
By taking these steps now, you’re setting your garden up for a blooming lovely spring and summer!
Fruit and Vegetables
Pruning and maintenance: Complete winter pruning of fruit trees such as apples, raspberries, and blackcurrants before new growth begins.
Planting and sowing: Chit first early potato tubers, plant rhubarb crowns, and begin planning seed sowing. Bare-root fruit bushes, trees, and canes can still be planted while the ground remains unfrozen.
Fertilising and soil preparation: Feed fruit trees with a potash fertiliser to encourage flowering and fruiting. Improve vegetable beds by adding well-rotted compost.
You’ll find seed potatoes, bare-root fruit trees and bushes, compost, and fertilisers available in store, with our team on hand to help you choose the right options for your garden.
Flowers
Pruning and cutting back:
Prune late-flowering clematis, buddleja, elder, and winter-blooming shrubs such as mahonia. Cut wisteria back to three or four buds, and trim ivy and Virginia creeper before nesting season begins.
Dividing and transplanting:
Divide snowdrops, aconites, herbaceous perennials, and ornamental grasses. Transplant dormant deciduous shrubs while they are still at rest.
Planting and potting:
Fill containers with hardy spring bedding plants such as primroses and wallflowers to add early colour to the garden.
Fertiliser:
Apply a slow-release fertiliser around roses and flowering shrubs to support healthy spring growth.
From spring bedding plants to fertilisers for roses and shrubs, everything you need to get started is available in store at Raglan.
Greenhouses
Sowing and planting: Sow sweet peas, summer bedding plants, tender annuals, and crops such as tomatoes and chillies. Start summer bulbs indoors for an earlier display.
Pruning and growth stimulation: Pinch out autumn-sown sweet peas and cut back overwintered fuchsias to encourage bushier growth.
Maintenance and care: Monitor greenhouse temperatures, clean glazing to maximise light levels, and remove yellowing leaves from overwintering plants to help prevent disease.
Visit us in store for seeds, summer bulbs, compost, greenhouses, and greenhouse essentials - plus plenty of advice on when and how to sow.
General Garden Maintenance
Frost protection and structural care: Protect tender plants with fleece and insulate pots where needed. Firm down any plants lifted by frost or strong winds.
Soil improvement and pruning: Spread well-rotted manure over beds to enrich the soil. Prune hybrid tea and floribunda roses once the risk of severe frost has passed.
Pond and tool care: Clear debris from pond margins, remove autumn pond netting, and check that garden tools and mowers are clean and free from rust.
We stock composts, manures, fleece, tools, and seasonal garden care essentials in store, ready for late winter and early spring jobs.