Tim Martin weeding beds at Greys Court, Oxon

If you’re determined your garden is going to look blooming gorgeous this summer, read on. Tim Martin, head gardener of the National Trust’s Thames Portfolio to the rescue with his spring gardening tips. Tim got the gardening bug when he was a boy growing up in Sussex. “My mum persuaded my dad to give up a corner of the veg patch,” he says, “I grew lupins when I was about eight or nine. They were the first flowers I grew and I was smitten,” he recalls.

Fast forward and he’s now responsible for not one, not two but three NT gardens: Basildon Park nr Pangbourne, Greys Court in Henley and Nuffield Place nr Wallingford. So next time you’re admiring the snowdrops, daffodils or bluebells at Basildon Park, it’s all thanks to Tim and his team of gardeners and volunteers. Before we can spend sunny days loafing on a lounger with a G&T, there’s just a few jobs to do first. Grab your secateurs and let’s get started!

Daffodils in front of Basildon Park house

Tidy up leaves and borders

Yup, that’s right – not only does the house need tidying, the garden does too, although you’ll be relieved to hear that Tim doesn’t think gardens should be spotless (phew!). It’s time to gather up any remaining autumn leaves but don’t bin them. They can be used to make compost or choose a spot in the garden to keep them and the wildlife will thank you. You can tidy your borders too. “Don’t cut your borders down until now,” Tim advises, “I like the form of the dead flowers, which catch the frost and spider webs.”

Prune your roses

February is the perfect time to prune your roses. Don’t hold back – they’ll pay you back with beautiful blooms in the coming weeks. If you have wisteria, now’s the time to remove any long lateral stems and cut back winter shrubs, such as forsythia, too.

Look after the ground

“Compost is a great thing in your garden and it’s sustainable,” Tim says. “Compost helps with soil structure and moisture retention – think of it as a warm duvet for your soil,” he adds. You can make your own by mixing garden waste with raw fruit and vegetable peelings. Tim doesn’t recommend using peat as peatlands, which store carbon, help control flooding and are home to wildflowers and wildlife, need protecting. Read more about how to make compost here.

Don’t forget your grass

Little and often is Tim’s advice. “Mow your lawn regularly but don’t go too short,” he says as this can weaken it and mean more maintenance in the long term. “We might have a dry summer again, which will mean regular watering.” Here’s hoping we’ll need to be outside lots with a watering can in hand.

Go shopping (bet you didn’t expect that!)

Now this is the kind of gardening we can get on board with! Tim recommends popping to your local garden centre to see which seasonal bulbs take your fancy. Plant them in tubs and you’ll soon have pops of colour to enjoy.

Visit a local garden

Head to Stourhead for some garden inspiration – the snowdrops and catkins are out and soon it will be daffodil and then bluebell season. “Spring is an amazing time in the garden, everything is starting to wake up and the birds are singing,” Tim says. We just need some sunshine now!

Spring gardening jobs! Can you dig it? Yes you can

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