When the first warm rays of sunshine chase away winter, every garden owner is eager to get started. But before you grab the spade, thorough planning pays off. As a master craftsman business with over 14 years of experience, we share our tried and tested tips.
1. Take stock of your garden
First, walk through your garden and note what winter has left behind: Which plants survived the frost? Is there any damage to paths, fences or patios? Are lawn areas mossy or bare? This assessment is the foundation for all further steps.
2. Analyse and prepare the soil
A healthy garden starts with healthy soil. Have a soil analysis carried out in spring – this can be done affordably through the agricultural chamber. You will learn:
- the pH value of your soil
- which nutrients are lacking
- whether and how you should lime or fertilise
- the soil composition (sandy, loamy, humus-rich)
Particularly in the Hiddenhausen and Herford region, we frequently encounter loamy soils that require special treatment.
3. Create a planting plan
Before buying new plants, create a planting plan. Consider the following:
- Light conditions: Which areas are sunny, partially shaded or fully shaded?
- Flowering times: Plan so that something is always in bloom from spring to autumn.
- Growth heights: Low plants at the front, tall ones at the back.
- Maintenance effort: Be honest with yourself – how much time do you want to invest?
Tip: We create digital design plans for our clients, allowing you to visualise your future garden in advance. Learn more on our Private Gardens page.
4. Care for your lawn early
The lawn is the centrepiece of many gardens. In spring, it needs special attention:
- March/April: First mowing to approx. 4 cm, remove moss and weeds
- April: Scarify to remove lawn thatch
- April/May: Reseed bare patches, apply slow-release fertiliser
By the way: With a robot mower, you can skip regular mowing entirely – and the lawn becomes denser and greener because the fine mulch acts as a natural fertiliser.
5. Plan irrigation
Recent summers have shown: without well-planned irrigation, things get difficult. Plan now, before the dry spells begin:
- Automatic irrigation systems save up to 50% water compared to manual watering
- Timer-controlled systems water in the early morning hours – optimal for plants
- Drip irrigation for beds, pop-up sprinklers for lawns
More on this topic in our article: Summer Irrigation – Automatic and Water-Saving.
6. Prune hedges and shrubs
Late February to March is the ideal time for pruning fruit trees and ornamental shrubs. Keep the following in mind:
- Prune fruit trees before budding (February/March)
- Cut back summer-flowering shrubs (e.g. butterfly bush) vigorously now
- Prune early bloomers (e.g. forsythia) only after flowering
- Important: From 1 March, bird protection law applies – no radical hedge cutting until October!
7. Get professional support
Not everything needs to be done yourself. Especially for larger projects such as new garden construction, patio building or irrigation system installation, professional help is worthwhile. The advantages:
- Expert advice saves expensive purchasing mistakes
- Professional execution lasts longer
- We know the regional conditions in East Westphalia
- Digital design plans show the result in advance
Conclusion
Good garden planning in spring saves you a lot of time, money and frustration throughout the year. Take the time for an assessment, plan planting and irrigation carefully – and do not hesitate to bring in professionals.
Want to get your garden ready for spring? We are happy to advise you free of charge and without obligation. Contact us or call us on 05221 76 40 585.