1. Dig over your soil

The essential spring job is digging and preparing, just as long as the ground isn’t waterlogged or frozen. Digging and forking the soil allows you to loosen it, remove weeds and add compost or manure, which will improve soil structure and create a moisture and food reserve for plants. “There’s nothing better than digging and breathing in the smell of the soil as you turn it over, knowing that your efforts will be rewarded with some great tasting veg or fabulous flowers.”

2. Prune your shrubs

The most important job for me is pruning and shaping our shrub roses. Start by removing any dead or diseased branches, prevent damage by cutting back sections which rub against each other and reduce exceptionally long branches by one third of their length.

3. Reinvigorate your lawn

Dig a trial pit and find out what is going on underneath the grass itself. Check for moss and thatch (the dying grass) and then start mowing, wedding and feeding.

4. Spruce up your garden path

It’s time to spruce up the garden path and bring it back to life with a good old-fashioned sweep. Grab a stiff brush and start clearing paths of moss, lichen and weeds.

5. Protect your garden from frost

Protect any tender herbs from frost. January and February are usually the coldest months. Bay, myrtle, olive and French lavender can be brought undercover or near the house if in containers, or covered in fleece in situ. Put a cloche over thyme you use for cooking and it will stay leafier. Prune wisteria and grape vines if they have not been done already. On any frost-free days, plant bare root or container trees, shrubs, hedging, fruit bushes and canes.

6. Create natural food for wildlife

For wildlife, consider planting native trees and shrubs such as guelder rose, yew, holly, hawthorn or blackthorn. Berries will provide natural bird food and cover for nesting and roosting is always needed. Report any sightings of weasels to the Mammal Society - they are possibly getting very rare.

7. Provide for the birds

Birds need a range of food provided in different ways and kept as clean as possible. Water is just as important as natural resources freeze up - create a pond or water feature and make sure birdbaths stay ice-free (a floating ball does the job, and if it freezes take the ball out to leave a hole).

8. Make a home for mini beasts

Create leaf piles in quiet corners of the garden border or leave a swathe of grass uncut; these offer mini-beasts places to spend the winter and provide ground feeding birds somewhere to forage. To help birds with springtime nesting, put out the fur from pet grooming so that birds can use the fur and line their nests (February and March and onwards).

 

 

Teach your child to love to garden, spend time with nature and understand the cycles of life! Give your child the gift of a garden of their very own. Master these five easy steps to guide you through many bonding session with your child and nature.