Five Things To Do in Your Garden After Heavy Rain – Just in Time for Spring

Spring is here, and after the heavy rains, your garden is bursting with opportunities. We spoke with local horticulturist and landscape designer Joel Lace from Cleveland Nursery in Stirling to find out the best things you can do right now to set your garden up for success.

1. Plant While the Soil is Soft

After a good soaking, the ground is soft and easy to dig – the perfect time for planting. With soil starting to warm up, new plants can establish quickly. Whether you’re planning a whole new garden bed or just adding a few favourites, now is the moment to get them in the ground so they can thrive through spring and summer.

2. Get on Top of Weeds Early

Rain followed by sunshine is the perfect recipe for weeds to take off. Joel recommends using this time to tackle weeding while the soil is damp and roots come out easily. A little effort now will save you a lot of work later in the season.

3. Refresh Your Mulch

Heavy downpours can wash mulch away, leaving soil exposed. Replacing mulch now will help lock in all that valuable moisture and protect your plants as the weather heats up. Think of it as insurance for your garden heading into another potentially dry summer.

4. Plant Trees, Shrubs, and Natives

If you’ve been thinking about adding trees or shrubs, this is the ideal season. Deciduous trees, flowering favourites like azaleas, and classic Hills plants such as hellebores are all good choices. Natives are also a smart pick – they establish beautifully after rain and are well-suited to Hills gardens. Fruit trees (apart from citrus, which prefer warmer soil) can also go in now. Joel notes it’s still a little early for citrus in the Hills, so hold off until the soil has warmed further.

5. Prune and Tidy Up Storm Damage

Finally, take a look around your garden for any damage from wind or heavy rain. It’s also the last chance to prune deciduous plants before new leaves arrive. A quick tidy-up now will keep your garden healthy and looking its best as growth kicks in.

In short: heavy rain plus spring sunshine equals the perfect time to get stuck into your garden. From planting and mulching to pruning and weeding (just not citrus yet), a little effort now will pay off all season long.

Thanks to Joel Lace, horticulturist and garden designer at Cleveland Nursery in Stirling, for sharing his spring gardening advice.