The festive period is almost over, and just as soon as it started. What stretches out after the wonderment of the Christmas and New Year period is weeks of cold and damp before the first vestiges of spring begin to peek out in every garden and lawn across the country.

Many of us will be looking forward to the spring with great anticipation, especially after the relative misery that Blue Monday brings. Indeed, preparing for spring can begin as early as the new year, particularly when it comes to the state of your garden. After a season of hibernation and neglect, there are many things you can do to get your garden ready for the season of rejuvenation.

Tidy Leaves and Debris

Firstly, it is important to remove debris and dead leaves from your garden and flowerbeds – for multiple reasons. Superficially, doing this serves to neaten your garden, and give you a clearer idea of what you might want to do ahead of spring. More importantly, though, dead leaves and debris do not necessarily biodegrade into healthy mulch for your plants. Instead, they can kill off your lawn grass, and in the cold become a breeding ground for dangerous bacteria.

Trim the Grass

With your lawn and flowerbeds clear, your next step should be to mow and trim your grass. Grass growth slows significantly over winter, so your mowing would not necessarily have a major impact past tidying up the look of your lawn; however, mowing can also strengthen your grass ahead of the spring surge.

While doing this, you should also take to your lawn’s borders with a cordless strimmer. With your strimmer, you can redefine the boundary lines of your lawn and flowerbeds and give you a solid foundation from which to think about planting.

If you struggle to maintain a kept lawn year-round, or want something that required little effort and upkeep, you might instead consider switching to a fake grass lawn. Authentic ranges have grown hugely in popularity over the past few years, and there’s a lot of different styles depending on the finish you want for your garden. With proper bordering, you can also segment your garden and keep inviting in wildlife with planters, feeders, and more.

Plant for Spring

Now is a fantastic time to think about planting for spring. Are there any spring flowers that rank amongst your favourites? Bulbs of tulips and daffodils fare quite well even in the colder soil, provided the soil doesn’t freeze. Planting now means you can turn your attention elsewhere and enjoy the fruits of a colourful garden the moment the weather turns.

Add Colour Through Accessories

Lastly, with your basic garden maintenance complete, you can look to populating it with spring-friendly accessories and items. Brightly coloured flowerpots on your patio can bring much-needed vibrancy to your pre-flowering garden, and give you fresh opportunities to plant some beautiful flowers as temperatures rise. You could even invest in some statues and sculptures to nestle in your flowerbeds and add some character.