Summertime is just around the corner, so it’s time to get your garden ready.

Laying the foundations now means that you’ll have a garden in full bloom by mid-July. In this guide, we’ve covered 5 top tips to help your garden grow beautifully and welcome new life just in time for summer.

5 garden prep tips for April and May

1. Spring clean

Start the season fresh by giving your garden a complete spring clean. In the process you should remove debris, dead foliage and winter mulch, ensuring that all leftover debris is cleared away.

This process improves air circulation and sunlight access to your plants, which promotes their healthy growth and nourishment. It also keeps bacterial diseases at bay and prepares the soil for new growth. Try to prune damaged or dead tree branches and shrubs, dividing any overcrowded perennials to help invigorate the garden beds.

2. Nourish the soil

Next, enriching the soil now means you can prepare for summer planting.

Test the pH and adjust it as required, making sure that it provides optimal growing conditions for the plants you’ve chosen. Use organic mulch to nourish the soil now or use natural materials like shredded straw or bark. As these break down, they provide valuable nutrients to the soil and therefore the plants growing in your garden.

3. Grow seasonal plants

Introducing seasonal flowers and fauna to your garden welcomes the summertime naturally.

Try to plant varieties that thrive in warmer temperatures and through longer days. Flowers to choose from include tulips, pansies, daffodils, and hyacinths. Spring-flowering bulbs and annuals can be planted in containers, hanging baskets, or garden beds.

Fruit and vegetables make a brilliant choice for young families since plant projects help to keep children engaged through the summer holidays. There are plenty of seasonal foods to sow outside in May, including cabbages, courgettes, parsley, pumpkins, and tomato plants to deliver a delicious yield.

4. Build a summer colour palette

It’s time to plan and design your garden with summer shades in mind. Try to incorporate a range of different foliage textures, with complementary hues and flowering plants following a pattern accordingly.

Choose a variety of perennials and perennials to create a colourful display that blooms all year. Adding texture and continuous colour not only makes your garden more interesting but creates unique focal points, immediately injecting character. Mowing the lawn frequently helps you to add shape, but just be cautious of the lawn habitats and wildlife within them.

5. Make space for wildlife

Lastly, it’s always worth creating a welcoming habitat for local wildlife around your home.

Luckily, achieving a haven of biodiversity in your garden is quite a simple process. Plant native flowering plants, trees, and shrubs to offer shelter and nesting sites for birds and other wildlife. If there’s no space for trees in your garden, it’s worth hanging bird feeders and installing bird baths.

Butterfly houses and wildflowers welcome a greater variety of species. Try to avoid using any strong chemicals or pesticides to look after the delicate balance of your garden’s ecosystem.