We all know that Brits love their gardens, but a thriving garden doesn’t happen by accident—it’s all about timing.
Each season brings new tasks, from prepping soil in spring to protecting plants in winter. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, knowing what to do and when can make all the difference.
With advice from several credited experts, this guide will break down essential tasks for spring, summer, autumn, and winter, from sustainable lawn care and plant care to tips for attracting wildlife.
This guide will help you keep your garden healthy and beautiful all year round.
Seasonal Lawn Care
A garden lawn is often the largest surface area in a garden and can really make or break an outdoor space. Thankfully, Gardening Expert Lucie Bradley, from Easy Garden Irrigation, has shared some handy season-by-season advice to keep it in top shape:
Spring
Mowing Frequency - March is the time to give your lawn its first cut of the year. Once temperatures are consistently above 6°C, you should then continue to do so every two weeks. This helps to remove any unwanted weeds but also promotes a denser turf to grow.
Scarify - Moving into April, scarify the lawn to remove any moss build-up or thatch, old dead grass stems. Both of these can be damaging to a lawn, becoming compacted and suffocating new growth. Scarifying moss from your lawn can be done using a metal lawn rake.
Aerate - This involves spiking the lawn surface either using a garden fork or an aeration tool to create holes in the soil surface. The holes should be no more than six inches deep. This allows it to ‘breathe’ making space for more oxygen, allowing roots to stretch out and grow, and ensuring water and nutrients are absorbed more effectively.
Summer
Mowing frequency - You should now increase mowing frequency to once a week as this is the peak period of grass growth. However, in a drought or heatwave, you should never cut your grass as it may not recover from mowing. Instead, wait until the temperatures cool down and at least 24 hours after rainfall or watering.
Watering - Throughout the summer months, keep on top of watering as rainfall typically becomes less frequent and reliable. Rather than using a hosepipe, which wastes large amounts of water, household water, known as grey water, can be collected and used instead.
Examples of this include bathroom sink and shower water, kitchen sink water, and leftover bathtub water, providing these are all free from harsh chemicals or pollutants. Another great way to sustainably water a lawn is by using a water butt to collect and store rainwater that can be used within the garden at no cost.
Autumn
Mowing frequency - From September onward reduce the mowing frequency back to bi-weekly as the growth rate of the grass will decrease. You should aim to give your lawn its last cut of the year in November as during the winter, below temperatures of 5 °C, grass does not typically grow.
Aerate - It’s also good practice to aerate the lawn once again, as in the Summer the lawn is subject to more wear and tear which over time can compact the soil. This can lead to poor drainage in heavy rainfall leading to water pooling on the surface which can starve the grass of essential nutrients.
Winter
Clear debris - Typically, you will not need to conduct any lawn care throughout the winter months. The only thing to be mindful of is keeping the lawn's surface free of any excessive debris, such as branches or leaves. However, you should not use a metal rake for this, as this will damage the weakened soil surface.
Snow care - It is also not necessary to clear the lawn of any snow since the UK rarely receives a large, prolonged amount of snowfall. Snow can be beneficial to a lawn helping to insulate it from freezing temperatures and provide natural nutrients when it melts into the soil. Snow clearance can also damage a lawn if not done so cautiously.
Seasonal Plant Care
From the spring bulbs of daffodils and tulips to elegant summer roses and sunflowers, there is a wide variety of different plants to ensure a fully blooming garden right through the year.
Simon Wilkinson, RHS-award-winning horticulturist and Managing Director of Wilkinsons Landscapes, has shared some expert advice to create a season-by-season gardening calendar covering plant growing, care, and maintenance.
Spring (March - May)
• March – This is the best month to sow your flowering bulbs, such as lilies, dahlias, and begonias. Incorporating organic compost helps to enrich the soil and improve drainage since it has plenty of time to rot down and help your garden bloom later in the year.
• April – This is the optimal time to plant many outdoor fruits and vegetables such as beans, peas, and carrots. Consider using raised beds or containers to enhance soil warmth and drainage. These can easily be made at home or bought from a local garden centre.
• May – This is when you can plant your bedding plants, such as geraniums, petunias, and busy lizzies. Mulching around these plants helps to retain moisture and suppress weeds. This could be straw, wood chips, shredded bark, leaves, grass clippings, or compost.
Roses: Spring is the time to plant out bare-root roses as well as prune any existing plants to promote new growth. Consider planting a mix of varieties for staggered and varied blooms, and plant bulbs and other border plants around them to create a bouquet effect. It’s vital to prune your roses to keep them manageable and encourage blooms.
Summer (June – August)
• June – This is a great month for pollinators. Planting a variety of flowers, such as poppies and marigolds, helps to attract different pollinators and enhance garden biodiversity.
• July – Keep on top of pruning and deadheading to promote new, healthy growth, but also enjoy the full blooms of flowers. Regularly check for pests and diseases and treat them promptly to keep plants healthy.
• August – In the last days of Summer, make sure to keep on top of any watering, especially around any heat waves. Collected rainwater is an eco-friendly and cost-effective way to keep a garden hydrated – even during a hosepipe ban.
Roses: For Summer, make sure to regularly fertilise and water rose plants to provide them with enough water. Roses are thirsty plants and cannot get all the water they need from the rainfall, especially in hotter and drier months. Apply a balanced rose fertilizer every 4-6 weeks. It’s best to underfeed and top up if they need it, rather than overdoing it.
Autumn (September – November)
• September – This is the time to forward-plan by planting spring bulbs for the next season. Make sure to plant bulbs at a depth of three times their height for optimal growth during the next year, you don’t want your beautiful flowers flopping over.
• October – A key harvesting month, usually the busiest month for home growers of fruit and vegetables. Make sure to store harvested produce in a cool, dry place to extend its shelf life and try it all so you know which you like best.
• November – Trim back any hedges as well as prune and de-head any flowers to prepare for winter. It’s time to start protecting more cold-vulnerable plants with mulches or fleeces, and if you have an indoor space, you may want to move some potted plants inside or into a greenhouse to protect against the hardest frosts.
Roses: In the Autumn, deadhead any wilting or dying flowers after they have bloomed and cut back any stems over 30cm to avoid any damage from the windy weather. Now is the time to add a mulch of compost to protect to retain moisture and help soil temperature.
Winter (December - February)
• December & January – Stay out of the rain and keep productive by tidying up your shed and greenhouse. Clean and sharpen your tools, so you don’t find your shears rusted shut the next year.
• February – Weather permitting, this is a great time to sow some seeds in your vegetable patch. Use cloches or cold frames to protect young seedlings from any frost.
Roses: No extra care is needed throughout winter. But keep an eye on their condition after bad weather and storms to make sure that the core stem of the plant hasn’t split. It’s a good idea to bolster the base of your roses with a mound of soil, which will also help insulate the roots against the frosty weather.
Fruit and vegetable planting calendar
With over a quarter (28%) of UK gardens containing a vegetable patch, over recent years, there has been a growing trend in home-grown food.
Providing expert advice for at-home vegetable patches, Simon mentions that “growing your own vegetables is incredibly satisfying. Not only do you get to enjoy the process of planting, nurturing, and harvesting your own food, but it's also a fantastic way to connect with nature and enjoy fresh, homegrown produce.”
Simon has also provided insights to create a month-by-month planting guide for various fruits and vegetables:
How to help wildlife in the garden
As part of David Wilson Homes’ partnership with the RSPB, the UK’s largest nature conservation charity, we’re working together on a journey to make our developments great places for both homeowners and wildlife to live in.
Helen Nyul, Group Head of Biodiversity at David Wilson Homes, has shared some expert advice for encouraging more wildlife into your garden and correctly caring for them.
1. Pollen-friendly planting
Pollinators like bees, butterflies, and moths play a crucial role in any garden environment, transferring pollen from one flower to another, enabling plants to reproduce and produce seeds and fruits.
Several pollinator-friendly plants are easy to grow and maintain, and nearly all are perennials – meaning they come back year after year.
These are:
These are:
• For butterflies: marjoram, Verbena bonariensis, Michaelmas daisy
• For bumblebees: geraniums, lavender, foxgloves, hyacinths
• For moths: jasmine, primrose, ivy
2. Setting up feeding stations
This is a great way to attract a wide variety of garden wildlife, including different varieties of birds, squirrels, and hedgehogs.
Try to make sure feeding stations are 5-6 feet in the air to reduce the risk of any nearby ground predators such as cats. A tree is the best location for these, but equally, a nearby fence or post will suffice.
• For garden birds: Suet balls and other fat-based food bars are excellent high-energy-giving foods for winter and popular with a wide range of birds. Sunflower seeds are the go-to choice universally alongside mealworms.
• For squirrels: Set out a small range of nuts and seeds such as hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, and chestnuts. Fruits such as apples and carrots can also be used to provide some added vitamins.
• For hedgehogs: Leave out a small amount of meat-based dog or cat food along with a small dish of fresh water. Never feed Hedgehogs milk or bread as they can't digest it, and it upsets their stomachs.
3. Creation of habitats
Rather than simply attracting wildlife to your garden, you can go a step further and make it a home for wildlife, from birds to bugs.
There are several habitat options including:
There are several habitat options including:
• Building a bird or bat box
• Creating a bee hotel
• Creating a bug hotel
• Building a hedgehog house
• Creating a pocket pond
Seasonal Garden Maintenance
As for general garden maintenance and upkeep, each season brings a different focus area:
Planting guides for different garden aspects
The garden aspect is the direction your garden faces. This determines the amount of sun it’ll receive from what angle and at what time.
To understand your garden’s aspect, take a compass or install a compass app on your phone. Point it towards the back of your garden, as this will give you an overall view.
If you have a wrap-around garden, you’ll have different aspects. This lets you play around with various plants and flowers depending on the sunlight exposure.
North gardens – A north-facing garden is in the shade for most of the day, but it receives a good amount of evening sun from May through to October.
Opt for plants and flowers that thrive in cooler environments, such as:
Opt for plants and flowers that thrive in cooler environments, such as:
• Sarcococca
• Ivy
• Ferns
• Begonia
If you’re looking to plant vegetables, consider lettuce, rocket, kale, mint and chives.
South gardens – South-facing gardens are considered the most desirable plot, as they receive direct sunlight all day. Choose plants that love the heat and can deal with a reasonable amount of shade, including:
• Hakonechloa
• Alliums
• Lillies
• Salvias
Watermelons, squash, okra, tomatoes, and aubergines are ideal for a south-facing garden.
East gardens – East-facing gardens get the morning sun. Plants that like partial shade and need shelter from strong sunlight will thrive here. Afternoon shade protects plants from the sun at its hottest, while evening shade will enhance the impact of white flowers that attract pollinating moths.
Opt for plants like:
• Euphorbia Characias
• Hostas
• Astilbes
• Brunnera
East-facing gardens are great for growing carrots, beetroot, and leafy greens. These plants enjoy some sun but are sensitive to the hot afternoon rays.
West gardens – West-facing gardens are in the shade in the morning and receive sun during the afternoon and evening. Plants in a west-facing garden should be able to withstand the heat of the afternoon sun during summer.
The best plants and flowers for this garden include:
• Verbena Bonariensis
• Daphnes
• Geraniums
• Elderflowers
If you’re planning to plant vegetables, carrots, beetroot, and leeks will thrive.
To conclude
Are you looking to upgrade your outdoor space? Most of our brand-new homes in the UK enjoy generous garden space. So, if you’re ready to become a homeowner, browse our range of stylish 2, 3, 4, and 5 bedroom properties.
We also have fantastic offers to help you get moving into your new home.
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