Prepare your garden for spring

Work with your local climate and the tips from our experts so you can get ready for spring growth – the following will help with planting ideas and basic maintenance.

Warm temperate

Karen Sutherland

• Plant bare-root strawberries now as they’re much cheaper than buying potted plants. Strawberries grow well in space-saving wall gardens or pots.
• Bees and other beneficial insects can struggle to find flowers to feed on right now. Winter flowering wallflowers, such as ‘Winter Joy’, can fill the gap.
• Last chance before spring starts to prevent leaf curl on dormant almonds, peaches or nectarines. Alternate between copper and lime sulphur sprays each year to help avoid copper build-up in the soil. Don’t delay as spraying after bud burst is not effective and can cause damage.

Cool temperate

Natasha Morgan

• This is bare-rooted season. I am planting bare-rooted deciduous fruit trees, making sure the graft union is above the soil. Mulch afterwards but keep it 10cm away from the trunk.
• After the cold of winter, the garden structure is more visible, so I use this time to mark out new beds with stakes and string, watching where frost lingers and water pools to show where drainage needs work.
• A little compost around hellebores and spring bulbs supports growth as they push through.

Tropical

Arno King

• Now is the ideal time to start planting tropical root crops, such as sweet potatoes, cassava or taro. These staples grow readily from cuttings or divisions and once established, can be harvested and replanted annually.
• As winter crops wind down, it’s time to recharge your garden beds for the intense spring growth season ahead. Incorporate organic matter and fertilisers containing ground rock minerals.
• Maintain a 5cm layer of mulch across garden beds.

Subtropical

Leonie Shanahan

• Plant Madagascar bean (Phaseolus lunatus) seeds, the plants will continue growing for up to seven years and have a prolific summer harvest of edible seeds. Grow on an archway to provide shade as an extra bonus during summer. In areas which experience some winter chill, wait until things warm up before planting.
• Plant fast-growing tulsi (holy basil herb) in well drained soil in full sun. Pinch the tips to encourage bushy growth. Harvest leaves for tea or steam inhalation to ease congestion.
• Short on space? Try espaliered fruit trees. Buy ready trained trees from nurseries or train your own branches flat along wire, fences or walls. Espaliering saves space, improves airflow and sun exposure, making fruit easier to pick and creates a neat, formal looking feature.

Arid/Semi-arid

Cass Hooke

• Brussels sprouts should be growing nicely and getting to a size where sprouts can be harvested. Rather than harvesting the whole plant, start from the base and pick the largest sprouts first. This allows room and energy for smaller sprouts further up the stem to continue to mature in the plant and gives you a longer harvest period.
• Our mulberry trees are one of my children’s favourite delights thanks to the delicious fruit! However, the branch offcuts also make great support material for use around the garden. Mulberries are superfast growing and ideal in this climate. Plant a bare rooted tree now. I prefer a large black fruiting variety but you can also find dwarf options for smaller spaces.
• Lift and divide perennials such as sedum, catnip, asters, society garlic or arthropodiums, to make the most of what you already have. Repeat plantings will make a cohesive garden.

Our Early Spring 2026 issue with the seasonal tips from our expert contributors is available at your local newsagents, selected supermarkets and online.