What Are the First Gardening Jobs of Spring?

As winter loosens its grip and the garden starts to stir, it’s natural to feel eager to dig in. But where should you begin? Spring gardening is all about setting the foundations — clearing space, awakening the soil, and preparing plants for a season of healthy growth.

Here’s a clear, practical guide to the most important early-spring tasks, especially suited for UK gardens.

1. Begin with a Gentle Garden Clean-Up

Winter often leaves behind leaves, sticks, and tired plant material. But spring cleanup is about balance.

What to Do

• Remove dead annuals and spent growth from last year.
• Tidy borders and paths.
• Clear away dead or diseased branches.

What to Avoid

Don’t over‑tidy too early.
Beneficial insects overwinter in leaves and hollow stems, so wait until temperatures are consistently above 10°C (50°F) before clearing everything.

2. Prune Key Trees and Shrubs

Early spring is the perfect moment for pruning plants that flower on new wood.

Best Candidates for Spring Pruning

• Buddleia (Butterfly Bush)
• Certain hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata & arborescens)
• Roses (just as buds break)
• Fruit trees before buds swell

Avoid Pruning

• Spring-flowering shrubs (like lilac, forsythia, viburnum) — prune after they bloom.

3. Test & Improve the Soil

Healthy plants start with healthy soil.

Test Your Soil

Use:

• A garden centre pH kit
• Or a professional test via local extension services

Adjust as Needed

• Add lime to raise pH.
• Add sulphur to lower pH.
• Top up beds with compost or well-rotted manure.

Avoid digging wet soil — it destroys structure.

4. Prepare the Soil for Planting

Once soil becomes workable (no longer waterlogged), you can begin improving it.

Options

• Lightly turn the top layer
• Add compost, leaf mould, or aged manure
• Or use no-dig methods: apply 5–7cm compost as a top dressing

This wakes up microbial life and encourages strong root growth.

5. Direct Sow Cool-Season Crops

Many vegetables thrive in the chill of early spring.

Plant Outdoors

• Peas
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Broad beans
• Kale
• Radish
• Spring onions

As soon as the soil can be worked, you can sow.

6. Start Warm-Season Seeds Indoors

Working backwards from the last frost date, start seeds 6–8 weeks before planting out.

Start Indoors

• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Aubergines
• Basil
• Courgettes (later in spring)

Use clean trays, fresh compost, and good light.

7. Divide and Transplant Perennials

Spring is ideal for dividing plants that have become crowded.

Good Candidates

• Hostas
• Daylilies
• Rudbeckia
• Asters
• Sedums
• Grasses

Divide just as new growth begins to show.

8. Sharpen, Clean & Prep Your Tools

Well-maintained tools make everything easier.

Check

• Pruners (sharpen & oil)
• Spades, forks, trowels
• Hoses & irrigation systems
• Pots & seed trays

Wash pots to prevent fungal problems in seedlings.

9. Inspect for Pests & Diseases

Now is the time to spot problems early.

Look For

• Canker on fruit trees
• Vine weevil larvae in compost
• Aphid eggs on stems
• Black spot on roses

Apply dormant oil spray to fruit trees before buds open.

10. Rake & Repair the Lawn

A fresh start for the lawn sets the tone for summer.

Lawn Jobs

• Rake out winter thatch
• Patch bare spots with seed
• Aerate compacted soil
• Apply spring fertiliser
• Use pre-emergent weed control (timing matters!)

11. Plant New Trees & Shrubs

Early spring is perfect for establishing new plants before the heat arrives.

Plant

• Bare-root roses
• Bare-root fruit trees
• Native hedging
• Container shrubs

Water deeply to settle roots.

12. Install Supports & Structures

Planning ahead avoids damage later.

Add Supports

• Pea trellises
• Tomato cages
• Bean poles
• Flower stakes

Install before plants get large to avoid root disturbance.

13. Have Frost Protection Ready

Spring weather is unpredictable — late frosts can strike.

Keep Handy

• Fleece
• Cloche covers
• Upturned pots
• Straw for potatoes

Protect tender seedlings as needed.

14. Mulch — But Not Too Early

Mulch helps with moisture and weeds, but early application keeps soil cold.

When to Mulch

• Once soil has warmed up
• Once perennials are visible
• After planting new shrubs and trees

Use bark, compost, leaf mould, or straw depending on the bed.

FAQs

When should I start spring gardening?

As soon as soil becomes workable and temperatures rise above 5–10°C, depending on the task.

Can I prune everything now?

No — only prune plants that bloom on new wood. Spring bloomers must wait.

What vegetables can I plant first?

Peas, spinach, lettuce, kale, radish, broad beans, and other cool-season crops.

Should I mulch early?

Wait until soil warms. Mulching too early traps cold in the soil.