Spring Planting Guide: What to Do in Your Garden in March, April, and May

Spring gardening motivation hits hard in late February and peaks somewhere around mid-April — right when the garden centres fill up and it's tempting to buy everything that looks green and alive. Having a plan before you go is the difference between a coherent garden that builds on itself and a collection of individual purchases that don't quite add up.

This guide covers the three spring months in practical terms: what the priority jobs are in each, what's safe to plant when, and why spring is — despite what some people assume — one of the very best times to invest in structural evergreen planting for your entrance.

March: Prepare Before You Plant

March is the preparation month, not the planting month. The temptation is to plant immediately, but March soil is often cold, compacted, and wet from winter — conditions that slow establishment and stress new roots. Use March for the jobs that unlock everything else.

Soil preparation. Dig out compacted areas, incorporate compost, and allow border soil to warm for two weeks before planting into it. For container growing — which bypasses this entirely — March is fine to start straight away.

Light pruning and tidying of evergreens. Remove any winter die-back from shaped evergreens before new growth begins. Don't do heavy reshaping yet — wait until growth is actively underway to see the full form before making any significant cuts. Light tidying of frost-damaged tips is fine.

Apply the first slow-release granular feed to established container plants. The compost is beginning to warm and the plant will start drawing on available nutrients as soon as new growth begins. Getting the feed in place now means it's available precisely when the plant needs it.

April: The Planting Season Begins (With Caveats)

April is when most planting becomes reliably safe for the south and Midlands of England. Soil temperatures are rising, frosts are becoming less frequent, and the growing season is properly underway. Evergreens planted in April have the whole summer ahead to establish into their new compost or border soil before having to face their first winter.

The caveat: in northern England, Scotland, and elevated or exposed positions, frost risk persists into May. Tender species — bay (Laurus nobilis) and olive (Olea europaea) — should wait until after your last local frost date before being placed in an exposed position without protection. Hardy species (ilex, taxus, Prunus lusitanica, buxus, ligustrum) can go out in April with confidence across most of the UK.

Begin the watering regime for container plants. April warmth dries compost faster than people expect after the wet habits of winter. Start checking moisture levels regularly from mid-April and water whenever the top 5cm of compost feels dry.

May: The Establishment Window

May is peak establishment — everything that was planted in March and April is now actively growing, and the conditions are ideal for root development. For newly purchased plants, consistent watering in May is the single most important factor in first-season success. Roots establishing in warm, moist compost will set the plant up for years; roots stressed by dry compost in the first growing season never quite recover their vigour.

First trim of fast-growing species. Ligustrum, Prunus lusitanica, and bay can put on significant new growth in May. If the shaped form is being extended more than you want, a light first trim in late May maintains the form and encourages bushy dense regrowth. Don't clip ilex crenata or taxus in May — their growth rate doesn't warrant it and clipping during very active growth can remove more than intended.

Begin liquid feeding of container plants from May onwards, applied fortnightly alongside watering. The combination of active growth, warming temperatures, and adequate nutrition means May and June are the months when shaped evergreens grow and fill most quickly — take advantage of it.

The Spring Case for Buying Mature Shaped Evergreens

Spring is the best moment to buy mature shaped evergreens for one straightforward reason: you get the full growing season of enjoyment in the first year. A plant purchased in March or April is established by June and looking its best through the summer that follows. A plant purchased in September or October is immediately going into its quietest period — it won't die, but you won't see it at its best until the following May.

The timing insight: buy in spring, enjoy all summer, and the plant is fully established before winter. You get the immediate visual impact, the full first summer, and confidence going into the cold months that the roots are settled and resilient. No other planting window gives all three.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I plant in March UK?

Hardy evergreens — ilex crenata, taxus, Prunus lusitanica, ligustrum, buxus — can be planted in March without concern. Container growing (as opposed to ground planting) can begin even earlier, since the compost in a pot warms faster than border soil. Tender species such as bay and olive are better left until April in the south, May in the north. March is also ideal for planting spring bulbs in gaps around established structural planting.

When should I start planting in spring?

For hardy evergreens, as soon as soil temperatures are reliably above 5°C — typically mid to late March in the south, early to mid-April in the north. The practical test: push your hand into the border soil and hold it there. If it feels genuinely cold, wait a week or two. Warm enough to be comfortable to hold means warm enough for root establishment to begin.

What garden jobs should I do in spring?

March: soil preparation, light tidy of evergreens, apply first slow-release feed to containers. April: plant new evergreens, begin container watering regime, plant out spring companions. May: begin liquid feeding, first light trim of fast-growing species, establish summer watering routine, check new plantings for establishment. The sequence matters — preparation before planting, planting before feeding, feeding before the main growing season peak.

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