With the garden coming to life and a spring in your step, now’s the time to show your outdoor space a little love and affection.

“Springtime is, without doubt, my favourite time of year,” says award-winning landscaper Mark Gregory, MD of Landform Consultants and designer of The Savills Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023.

“The days are getting longer, lighter and brighter, and there’s a scent in the air that brings a smile to my face,” says Gregory. “It’s a new season, the plant world is waking up and that wakes me up.

So, what are you waiting for? Here, experts share their top tips on the jobs to tackle in your garden now spring is finally here…

1. Consider not mowing your lawn

As Gregory points out, when our lawns start to wake up, there’s a very real itch to get out and give them a trim. Aside from tidying up edges and reseeding bare patches, he suggests leaving lawns alone.

“We’ve taken part in No Mow May for the past few years, and have witnessed first-hand the hugely positive effect that it’s had in our garden,” says Gregory.

2. Give weeds a chance

As the soil warms up, and the first shoots of your favourite flowers start to tentatively show themselves, Gregory says they will inevitably be joined by some less favoured companions, weeds.

“As a child, I spent a lot of time on my hands and knees, earning pocket money for keeping the borders and veg patch weed-free. Now, my approach has changed. I don’t let perennial weeds take over, but I do allow some to stay. After all, I believe weeds can be the guardians of the garden, and their benefits outweigh their drawbacks.”

3. Design your beds and borders

“Spring is the ideal time to get your beds and borders in shape for the warmer months,” says Marcus Eyles, horticultural director at Dobbies.

To give your garden structure, Eyles recommends planting new container-grown shrubs, hedges, and trees in spring. You should also tend to evergreen trees, shrubs and hedges, by feeding them with a slow-release general-purpose fertiliser, lightly forked into your borders.

4. Plant bulbs for summer colour

One of the most enjoyable spring gardening jobs is undoubtedly planting, says Eyles. Opt for plants that can be grown quickly in warmer soil, for earlier blooms.

“Summer flowering bulbs, such as dahlias, lilies and gladioli, can be planted in spring for a burst of colour and fragrance in the summer months,” says Eyles. “Begonia corms can also be planted in containers now for early summer colour.

“Hardy annuals, such as love-in-a-mist or English marigold, can be sown directly into borders now, for a wonderful flower display later in the year – now is also the perfect time to plant new roses.”