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Getting read for Spring - turning the soil

It’s that time of year when we step out of the back door and sigh. So much to be done, and no idea where to start! If you want your garden to be a credit to you by the summer, begin with ground work.

If you have a gravel drive or path, you’ll probably find lots of the stones have been moved around by strong winds, storms or snow. Pick them up and put them back where they belong – immediately the place looks better.

Turning soil in the spring should be a rewarding part of gardening. Instead of thinking about the back-breaking work, focus on the rich fertile smells, and the feel of the earth under your hands, and remember that the work you do now will pay dividends later in the year.

Once you’ve broken up the soil surface, you can think about what you need to do to enrich it:

1. digging compost into soil enlivens all the little microbes that are begging to thrive again. Every garden needs a burst of new energy now.
2. fertilising at this time of year gives plants a real boost. Pick a fertiliser that suits you, some you water on, some you dig in, but either way, make sure it’s nitrogen rich because it’s nitrogen that jumpstarts the growth of leaves and flower buds.
3. mulching holds in moisture, deters pests and makes your soil surfaces look good. Bark mulch is the prettiest, but you can use the lawn cuttings for a cheaper alternative. A blanket of about two inches everywhere holds down evaporation and keeps weeds at bay.

Digging photograph by daxiang stef, used under a creative commons attribution licence

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