Getting Your Garden Ready for Spring:

  

It's mid January, the time of year when the evenings finally begin to stretch out, and we almost convince ourselves that spring is on the horizon. If you’re anything like me, this is the moment you get a sudden burst of inspiration to get out there and start preparing the garden for longer days ahead. You grab your gloves, your secateurs,  and then, like clockwork, the heavens open, and you’re legging it back inside, dripping wet and cursing the Irish weather.

But despite the damp and the unpredictability, I love the anticipation and tthis time of year. It’s when we get a glimpse of what’s to come, the snowdrops peeking through, daffodil shoots bravely making their way up, and a chance to get our hands dirty (even if it’s mostly with moss). So, let me walk you through what I’ve learned about getting the garden ready for spring in Ireland, where weeds and weather conspire against us, but we persevere because that’s what we do. 

Step 1: Clearing Winter’s Chaos  

The first job is always the same, clearing away what autumn and winter left behind. For me this is such a daunting task, So my trick is to do little by little each weekend. The fallen leaves that looked so lovely in October? By now, they’re a soggy mess clinging to every corner of the flower beds, smothering the brave little snowdrops underneath. 

Step 2: The Great Battle with Weeds (It’s Us vs. Them)

No matter how much time you spend pulling weeds in autumn, they always seem to reappear in January, smug and thriving. Irish weeds don’t care that it’s only 5 degrees outside, they're relentless.

After a good rain (which, let’s be honest, is daily), it’s the perfect time to pull them out by the roots. They practically slide out of the ground when the soil is soft. But if you wait too long, they’ll grip the earth like it’s their ancestral home.

My trick? Mulching! Adding a layer of bark chips or compost over the soil stops the weeds in their tracks. It also keeps things looking neat and gives you a smug sense of accomplishment, like you’ve outsmarted nature for once.

Step 3: Pruning the Right Way 

I’ll admit, hydrangeas used to confuse me. When do you prune them? How much do you cut back? And why does every gardening guide make it sound like rocket science? But I’ve learned that in Ireland, you need to leave the old flower heads on until the frost has passed, it protects the new shoots. 

Here’s what I do:

• In late January, I tidy up any dead or straggly bits but leave the main structure intact.

• For Annabelle hydrangeas (my personal favourite), you can prune harder in early spring, they bloom on new growth, so you’re not ruining their big show.

• For Mop-Head Hydrangeas, (Do Not) cut these back. only dead head the old flowers as these hydrangeas bloom on Old wood. 

• For roses, I start with the dead wood now but wait until February for a proper prune. 

 

Step 4: Soil TLC 

Once you’ve cleared out the weeds, it’s time to feed the soil. Think of it as prepping the beds like you’d prep your skin after winter, a good exfoliation (aka digging over the soil) followed by a rich layer of compost.

I always use homemade compost if I can  and avoid anything peat-based. We’ve got to protect our boglands, after all. Plus, composting is oddly satisfying—it feels like nature’s way of saying “waste not, want not.”

If the soil is too wet to dig, though, leave it be. There’s nothing worse than compacting wet soil and creating a mucky mess. Give it time, you’ve waited this long; a few more weeks won’t hurt.

Step 5: Early Seed Sowing (For That Head Start on Spring)

I love getting a jump on spring flowers and veg by starting seeds indoors while the garden is still waking up. Sweet peas, cosmos, and delphiniums are my favourites—they add timeless beauty to any garden.

In Ireland, I’ve learned that patience is key, direct sowing too early is like tempting fate (and frost). But indoors? Anything goes. A windowsill full of little green shoots makes the rain outside so much easier to bear.

Conclusion 

Getting your garden ready for spring in Ireland isn’t always glamorous, it’s muddy, unpredictable, and you’ll probably end up soaked more than once. But there’s something grounding about it and it is incredibly re-warding come summer time.  

Every weed pulled, every flower head pruned, every compost heap turned over is a reminder that spring is coming. The days are getting longer, and soon enough, we’ll see our gardens come back to life.

What’s your first task in the garden when spring is on the horizon? Let me know, I’m always up for swapping tips and stories!